Ionic bonding: Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry exam question on Ionic bonding (specification points 1.37–1.43), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 66 questions on Ionic bonding, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): What are the correct charges on the ions in calcium phosphate? (1) A Ca2+ and PO4 2– B Ca2+ and PO4 3– C Ca3+ and PO4 2– D Ca3+ and PO4 3–
June 2025, Paper 2, Q3(c) (3 marks): Magnesium oxide is an ionic compound. The diagrams show the atoms of magnesium and oxygen. Mg O Draw diagrams to show the structure of each ion in magnesium oxi
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give the charge on the copper ion in Cu(OH)2 (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q5(c) (2 marks): The diagram shows the electronic structure of an atom of sodium and an atom of oxygen. Sodium Oxygen Describe, in terms of electrons, what happens when sodium r
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q5(d) (5 marks): The table shows the melting points of sodium and sodium oxide. Melting point in °C Sodium 98 Sodium oxide 1132 Explain why sodium and sodium oxide have differen
November 2024, Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): Complete the table by giving the three missing formulae. (3)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the compound with the formula Al2(SO4)3 (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q6(b) (3 marks): The diagram shows the arrangement of electrons in an atom of magnesium and an atom of chlorine. Magnesium Chlorine Describe, in terms of electrons, what happens
November 2024, Paper 1, Q11(a)(iv) (5 marks): The diagram shows the structures of lead(II) sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Lead(II) sulfide Sulfur dioxide Explain, in terms of bonding and structure, why lead(II
June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the formula of the compound that forms when Z reacts with fluorine. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q4(c) (5 marks): Calcium bromide is an ionic compound. The table shows the formulae and melting points of caffeine and calcium bromide. Name Formula Melting point in °C caffeine
June 2024, Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (2 marks): Give the formula of each ion in potassium aluminium sulfate. (2) potassium ion aluminium ion sulfate ion
June 2024, Paper 1, Q7(d)(i) (1 mark): What is the formula of ammonium carbonate? (1) A NH3CO3 B (NH3)2CO3 C NH4CO3 D (NH4)2CO3
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (3 marks): Complete the table by giving the formulae of the missing compounds. (3)
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the compound with the formula ZnSO4 (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(ii) (3 marks): The diagram shows the electronic configuration of a magnesium atom and of a chlorine atom. x x x x x x x x x x magnesium chlorine Draw the electronic configurat
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(iii) (5 marks): Explain why magnesium chloride has a much higher melting point than hydrogen chloride. Refer to structure and bonding in your answer. (5)
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is the charge on a sulfide ion? (1) A 1+ B 2+ C 1– D 2–
November 2023, Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): What is the charge on a bromide ion? (1) A 1– B 1+ C 2– D 2+
June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a) (4 marks): Complete the table by giving the missing information. (4)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c) (2 marks): Lithium carbonate has ionic bonding. State what is meant by the term ionic bonding. (2)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the formula of each ion in lead(II) nitrate. (1) lead ion nitrate ion
June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a)(v) (1 mark): Give the formula of sodium sulfide. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q3(a)(iv) (1 mark): What is the charge on the ion usually formed from this element? (1) A 1+ B 2+ C 1– D 2–
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): Give the formula of each ion in calcium nitrate. (2) calcium ion nitrate ion
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (4 marks): Explain why calcium nitrate has a high melting point. Refer to structure and bonding in your answer. (4)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (3 marks): Complete the table by giving the missing formulae. (3)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the compound with the formula MgO (1)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the changes in the electron configurations of lithium and oxygen when these atoms form lithium oxide, Li2O (2)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): Lithium oxide has a giant ionic structure. Explain why lithium oxide has a high melting point. (3)
January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q5(b) (2 marks): Calcium phosphide is an ionic compound used in pest control. The formula of a calcium ion is Ca2+ Explain why the formula of calcium phosphide is Ca3P2 (2)
January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q5(e) (3 marks): Explain why calcium phosphide has a high melting point. You should refer to structure and bonding in your answer. (3)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(e) (1 mark): Give the charge on the ion formed from this atom. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is the charge on the lead ion in PbO? (1) A 1− B 1+ C 2− D 2+
June 2022, Paper 1, Q10(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the table by giving the missing information. (2)
June 2022, Paper 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): The diagram shows the electron configurations of a magnesium atom and an oxygen atom. magnesium atom oxygen atom Describe the changes in the electronic configur
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q10(b)(i) (3 marks): When 50 cm3 of dilute sulfuric acid have been added, only barium sulfate and water are present in the mixture. Explain why this mixture does not conduct electri
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the formula of the copper ion and the formula of the sulfate ion in copper(II) sulfate. (1) copper ion sulfate ion
January 2022, Paper 1, Q6(a) (3 marks): The diagram shows the electronic configuration of atoms of sodium and oxygen. Sodium Oxygen Describe the changes in the electronic configuration of the atoms of
January 2022, Paper 1, Q6(c) (2 marks): Explain why solid sodium oxide does not conduct electricity. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(d)(ii) (3 marks): Describe, in terms of electrons, the formation of the ions in magnesium sulfide. Give the charges on the ions. (3)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(d)(iii) (3 marks): Explain why magnesium sulfide has a very high melting point. (3)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(a)(iv) (2 marks): Explain why H is a negative ion. Refer to subatomic particles and their charges in your answer. (2)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): State the formula of the cation and the anion in magnesium sulfate. (2) cation anion
November 2021, Paper 2, Q4(b) (3 marks): The diagram shows the electronic configuration of a potassium atom and an oxygen atom. potassium oxygen Potassium oxide (K2O) is an ionic compound. Draw the ele
June 2021, Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): Give the formula of each ion in potassium sulfate. (1) potassium ion sulfate ion
June 2021, Paper 1, Q6(c)(ii) (4 marks): The melting point of potassium sulfate is 1069 °C. Explain why potassium sulfate has a high melting point. Refer to structure and bonding in your answer. (4)
January 2021, Paper 1, Q2(b) (1 mark): Substance Y does not conduct electricity when solid but does conduct electricity when molten. Give the type of bonding in substance Y. (1)
January 2021, Paper 1, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give the charge on the lead ion in Pb(NO3)2 (1)
January 2021, Paper 1, Q7(a) (3 marks): The diagram shows the electron configurations of an atom of lithium and an atom of oxygen. lithium oxygen Describe the changes in electronic configuration when
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a) (3 marks): Describe the different roles of electrons in the formation of  ions in lithium chloride  covalent bonds in hydrogen chloride (3)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q7(b) (5 marks): Explain why lithium chloride has a higher melting point than hydrogen chloride. Refer to structure and bonding in your answer. (5)
January 2021 (R), Paper 2, Q2(c) (1 mark): Elements in Group 7 react with elements in Group 1 to form ionic compounds. Which pair of ions both have the electronic configuration 2.8.8? (1) A Li+ and Cl– B
November 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(v) (1 mark): Give the name of the compound formed between oxygen and the element with atomic number 13 (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the chemical formula of ammonium sulfate is (NH4)2SO4 Refer to the charges on the ions in your answer. (2)
November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(iii) (3 marks): Draw diagrams to show the arrangement of the electrons in a lithium ion and in a fluoride ion. Include the charge on each ion. (3) lithium ion fluoride ion
January 2020, Paper 1, Q4(a)(i) (3 marks): Complete the table by giving the three missing formulae. (3)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the compound with the formula NH4NO3 (1)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): State the meaning of the term ionic bond. (2)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): The diagram shows the arrangement of the electrons in a sodium atom and in an oxygen atom. sodium atom oxygen atom Draw diagrams in the boxes to show the arrang
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q1(e)(ii) (1 mark): State what is formed when this atom loses its outer shell electrons. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): Give the formula of the ammonium ion. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a) (3 marks): The diagram shows the arrangement of electrons in an atom of calcium and in an atom of chlorine. Cl Ca Describe, in terms of electrons, what happens when calciu
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the formula of iron(III) chloride. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Give the formula of each ion in magnesium nitrate. (2) and
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q4(c) (3 marks): Potassium bromide is an ionic compound. Draw diagrams to show the outer electrons in a potassium ion and in a bromide ion. Include the charges on the ions. (3)

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