Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic key terms

ionic bond

In Chemical bonds, ionic bond means attraction between oppositely charged ions. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to identify ionic bonding as attraction between oppositely charged ions. Use ionic bond only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

oppositely charged ions

In Chemical bonds, oppositely charged ions means ions that have opposite electrical charges, leading to ionic bonding. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to identify ionic bonding as attraction between oppositely charged ions. Use oppositely charged ions only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

covalent bond

In Chemical bonds, covalent bond means attraction involving atoms that share pairs of electrons. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to identify covalent bonding as attraction involving atoms that share pairs of electrons. Use covalent bond only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

shared electron pairs

In Chemical bonds, shared electron pairs means the chemistry idea used to identify covalent bonding as attraction involving atoms that share pairs of electrons. Use this term specifically in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic when explaining this objective, so it is not confused with a broader bonding, structure, or materials term.

metallic bond

In Chemical bonds, metallic bond means attraction involving metal atoms and delocalised electrons. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to identify metallic bonding as attraction involving metal atoms and delocalised electrons. Use metallic bond only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

delocalised electron

An electron that is not associated with a specific atom and can move freely within a metallic structure.

ionic compound

A giant structure formed from the combination of metals and non-metals, consisting of oppositely charged ions.

metal

An element that typically loses electrons to form positive ions when reacting with non-metals.

covalent bond

In Chemical bonds, covalent bond means attraction involving atoms that share pairs of electrons. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to state that covalent substances usually involve non-metal atoms. Use covalent bond only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

non-metal

An element that usually does not form positive ions and is typically involved in covalent bonding.

metallic bond

In Chemical bonds, metallic bond means attraction involving metal atoms and delocalised electrons. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to state that metallic bonding occurs in metallic elements and alloys. Use metallic bond only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

alloy

In Chemical bonds, alloy means a mixture of two or more elements, where at least one is a metal. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to state that metallic bonding occurs in metallic elements and alloys. Use alloy only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

electrostatic force

In Chemical bonds, electrostatic force means the attraction between oppositely charged ions in ionic bonding. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to explain chemical bonding in terms of electrostatic forces and electron transfer or electron sharing. Use electrostatic force only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

electron transfer

The process by which electrons are moved from one atom to another during ionic bonding.

ionic bonding

In Chemical bonds, ionic bonding means attraction between oppositely charged ions. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to compare ionic, covalent and metallic bonding without treating the three bonding models as interchangeable. Use ionic bonding only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

covalent bonding

In Chemical bonds, covalent bonding means attraction involving atoms that share pairs of electrons. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to compare ionic, covalent and metallic bonding without treating the three bonding models as interchangeable. Use covalent bonding only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

metal atom

An atom that typically loses outer-shell electrons to form positive ions when reacting with non-metals.

outer-shell electrons

Electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding.

non-metal

In Ionic bonding, non-metal means an element that usually gains electrons during chemical reactions. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to describe how a non-metal atom gains electrons when reacting with a metal atom. Use non-metal only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

electron gain

In Ionic bonding, electron gain means the process by which a non-metal atom acquires one or more electrons. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to describe how a non-metal atom gains electrons when reacting with a metal atom. Use electron gain only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

positive ion

In Ionic bonding, positive ion means a positively charged ion formed when a metal atom loses one or more electrons. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to explain that metal atoms form positive ions and non-metal atoms form negative ions. Use positive ion only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

negative ion

In Ionic bonding, negative ion means the chemistry idea used to explain that metal atoms form positive ions and non-metal atoms form negative ions. Use this term specifically in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic when explaining this objective, so it is not confused with a broader bonding, structure, or materials term.

noble gas electronic structure

The electron arrangement of noble gases, characterized by a full outer shell of electrons, which is stable and unreactive.

Group 1 ion

An ion formed when a Group 1 metal atom loses one electron, resulting in a positive charge.

dot and cross diagram

A diagram that represents the transfer of electrons between atoms in ionic bonding, showing the electrons of each atom as dots or crosses.

ionic compound

A giant structure formed from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

group number

The number that indicates the column of the periodic table where an element is located, which helps determine the charge on its ions.

ion charge

The electrical charge of an ion, which is determined by the loss or gain of electrons during the formation of the ion.

simple ion

In Ionic bonding, simple ion means an ion formed when an atom loses or gains electrons, resulting in a net charge. This matters in Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic because it supports the learning objective to explain why the charge on a simple ion is linked to electron loss or electron gain. Use simple ion only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

electron loss

The process by which an atom loses one or more electrons, resulting in a positive charge.