Practise 36 real questions on Chemical bonding from 2021 to 2026. See the answer and explanation as soon as you answer.
Chemical bonding is one of the 18 main topics in our A Level Chemistry (Cambridge (CAIE) 9701) question bank, and about 6% of its real questions come from it. Tayyari Karo has 36 real questions on this topic from 2021 to 2026, from Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 4; 31 are multiple choice and marked instantly, and the rest are structured questions with a model answer. By difficulty: 20 medium, 9 hard, 7 easy.
Work through the questions below, then open the explanation for each one. Redo the ones you missed a few days later.
These are real past-paper questions. Think of your answer first, then open the explanation.
Which molecule or structure does not contain three atoms bonded at an angle between 109 and 110 degrees?
Answer: B. graphite
Graphite is planar with 120 degree bond angles. The others contain tetrahedral centres.
In which pair do both species have the same shape and the same number of covalent bonds?
Answer: A. methane and the ammonium ion
Methane (CH4) and NH4+ are both tetrahedral with four covalent bonds.
What is the bond angle in the ammonium ion?
Answer: C. 109.5°
NH4⁺ has four bonding pairs and no lone pairs around nitrogen, giving a regular tetrahedral shape with bond angles of 109.5°.
In the sodium chloride lattice the number of chloride ions that surround each sodium ion is called the coordination number of the sodium ions. What are the coordination numbers of the sodium ions and the chloride ions in the sodium chloride lattice?
Answer: C. sodium 6, chloride 6
NaCl has a 6:6 coordination lattice — each Na+ is surrounded by 6 Cl- and vice versa.
In which structure are three atoms bonded together in a straight line? A poly(ethene), -(CH2CH2)n-; B propane, C3H8; C silicon tetrachloride, SiCl4; D sulfur hexafluoride, SF6
Answer: D. sulfur hexafluoride
SF6 is octahedral, so opposite F-S-F bond angles are 180°, giving three atoms (F-S-F) in a straight line; SiCl4 is tetrahedral (109.5°) and propane's C-C-C is bent (~109.5°).
Which molecules contain at least one bond angle of 120°? 1: C2H4. 2: PF5. 3: NCl3.
Answer: B. 1 and 2 only are correct
C2H4 is trigonal planar about each carbon (120°); PF5 (trigonal bipyramidal) has 120° angles between equatorial F atoms; NCl3 is pyramidal (~107°), no 120° angle.
| Session | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May/June 2026 | 4 | 1 | – |
| May/June 2025 | 3 | 1 | – |
| October/November 2025 | 2 | – | – |
| May/June 2024 | 3 | 1 | – |
| October/November 2024 | 2 | – | – |
| May/June 2023 | 4 | – | – |
| October/November 2023 | 3 | – | – |
| May/June 2022 | 1 | – | – |
| October/November 2022 | 2 | – | – |
| May/June 2021 | 2 | 1 | – |
| October/November 2021 | 5 | – | 1 |
36 real A Level Chemistry (9701) questions on Chemical bonding from 2021 to 2026, from Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 4. Each one shows the year, session and paper it came from.
Yes. Every question shows the correct answer and a short explanation the moment you answer.
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