AQA · OCR A

Structure & bonding

Year 12 / AS: build the ideas, practise one skill at a time, then combine them in exam-style reasoning. Full A-level extensions are kept in a clearly separate Year 13 section below.

Structure Lab Shape Lab Polarity & IMF Lab Bond Builder Exam practice Year 13 extensions

Build it, then use it in exam questions

Start with the structure of a substance, move into molecular shape and intermolecular forces, or build ionic, covalent and dative bonding from the electrons up. Build the reasoning in the labs, then write it for marks in exam practice.

Structure LabStructure, melting, conductivity and deduction → Shape LabElectron regions, lone pairs, 3-D shape and bond angles → Polarity & IMF LabBond dipoles, molecular polarity, London forces, hydrogen bonding and boiling points → Bond BuilderIonic electron transfer, shared pairs, multiple bonds, lone pairs and dative arrows → Exam practiceOriginal questions for AQA and OCR A, difficulty filters and mark-point feedback →

Year 13 · full A level only

Continue with Year 13 bonding

This next section is not required for AS or Year 12. It extends the same bonding ideas into lattice energetics, transition-metal complex ions and delocalised bonding in benzene.

Full A-level bonding labIonic energetics · complexes · delocalisation →

Keep the levels separate

A lot of bonding mistakes come from mixing up how atoms form particles, what holds those particles together and what acts between molecules.

Electron transfer or sharingUse the electrons to build ions or covalent bonds correctly.

Bonding within a structureDecide whether the relevant attraction is ionic, covalent or metallic.

Molecular shape and polarityFor molecules, use the 3-D arrangement to decide whether bond dipoles cancel.

Intermolecular forcesOnly then compare London forces, permanent dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding.

Want faster retrieval?

Use the arcade games once the reasoning is secure. The labs are deliberately slower and more diagnostic.