IB Chemistry SL 2.2 Models of Bonding Question Bank
Practise IB Chemistry SL 2.2 with evidence-led questions on bonding models, molecular geometry, polarity and structure.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Course
- Chemistry SL
- Level
- SL
Practise IB Chemistry SL 2.2 with evidence-led questions on bonding models, molecular geometry, polarity and structure.
Ethyne, C2H2, reacts with oxygen in welding torches.
Deduce the Lewis (electron dot) structure of ethyne.
H:C::C:H/H−C≡C−H
Marking guidance:
Accept any valid combination of lines, dots and crosses.
Compare, giving a reason, the length of the bond between the carbon atoms in ethyne with that in ethane, C2H6.
«ethyne» shorter AND a greater number of shared/bonding electrons OR
«ethyne» shorter AND stronger bond
Identify the type of interaction that must be overcome when liquid ethyne vaporizes.
London/dispersion/instantaneous dipole-induced dipole forces
Marking guidance:
Do not accept just "intermolecular forces" or "van der Waals' forces".
Product B,CH3CHO, can also be synthesized from ethanol.
Explain why product B is water soluble.
Any three of: has an oxygen/O atom with a lone pair that can form hydrogen bonds/H-bonds «with water molecules» hydrocarbon chain is short «so does not disrupt many H-bonds with water molecules》
«large permanent» dipole-dipole interactions with water
3 max
Phosphorus is an element that is an essential part of the biological molecules involved in both respiration and photosynthesis.
7.75 g of phosphorus was combusted in a limited supply of oxygen, the mass of the oxide produced was 13.75 g .
This oxide of phosphorus has a melting point of 296.9 K .
Outline, with reference to structure and bonding, the reasons why the melting point of this oxide is low.
simple / molecular AND «polar» covalent
London dispersion forces/dipole-dipole / intermolecular forces are weak
Describe the nature of the bond between oxygen and phosphorus. Use sections 9 and 17 of the data booklet.
" 3.4−2.2=1.2,(3.4+2.2)/2=2.8 "
Electronegativity difference is 1.2 .
AND
Average electronegativity is 2.8
polar covalent
Another compound of phosphorus is phosphine, PH3, it forms a phosphonium ion, PH4+.
State the types of bonds present in the phosphonium ion, PH4+, and explain how these bonds are formed.
«3» covalent bonds
AND
«1» coordination bond
covalent bond is a pair of shared electrons
OR
«electrostatic» attraction between shared pair of electrons and «positively charged» nuclei
AND
a coordination bond is a pair of shared electrons that originate on one atom
Phosphorus trichloride, PCl3, is a common compound of phosphorus.
Deduce the Lewis formula of PCl3.

Accept any combination of lines and
dots/crosses to represent electron
pairs.