CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Chemical bonding

Chemical bonding: describe question

Describe7 marksChallenge

Describe the bonding in the aluminium chloride dimer, AlX2ClX6\ce{Al2Cl6}. In your answer, you should:

  • identify the types of covalent bonds present, including any dative covalent bonds
  • explain the hybridisation of the aluminium atoms
  • compare the bond lengths and bond energies of the terminal and bridging Al−Cl\ce{Al-Cl} bonds
  • describe how the bonds are formed in terms of orbital overlap.
0 words · 7 marks

No account needed for your first marks. Your answer is used only to mark it.

How this question is marked

7 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 7 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.

Describe means: Say what happens or what something is like, in order and with detail. You are not being asked why. If there is data, quote it: name the trend, then give figures with units at the points where it changes.

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