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Practice · Chemistry · 2025 syllabus · S2.3

IB Chemistry S2.3 The metallic model: practice questions

5 exam-style questions on S2.3 The metallic model, SL and HL: 3 multiple choice and 2 structured. Each one comes with the mark scheme, a model answer and the reasoning behind every mark. Free with your email.

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S2.3-01 · Paper 1A style · multiple choice · 1 mark

Ranking metallic bond strength

Which sequence lists the metals from weakest to strongest metallic bonding? [1]

  1. Rb, Na, Li, Be
  2. Be, Li, Na, Rb
  3. Li, Na, Rb, Be
  4. Be, Rb, Na, Li
Show the answer and the reasoning

Answer: A. A is correct. Metallic bond strength rises with the charge on the cation and falls as the cation gets larger, because both change the electrostatic attraction between the cations and the delocalized electrons. Li, Na and Rb all form 1+ ions, and the ion gets smaller going up group 1 (Rb+ 152 pm, Na+ 102 pm, Li+ 76 pm), so Rb is weakest and Li strongest of the three. Be forms a 2+ ion that is also very small (45 pm) and gives two electrons per atom to the delocalized sea, so it has the strongest bonding. The melting points agree: Rb 39.30 °C, Na 97.79 °C, Li 180.5 °C, Be 1287 °C. B is the whole order reversed, the answer of a student who thinks bigger atoms with more electrons bond more strongly. C gets the 2+ ion right but reverses the size trend in group 1. D gets the size trend right but puts the 2+ ion at the bottom, so it ignores the effect of charge.

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The 5 questions in S2.3

  1. S2.3-01 Ranking metallic bond strengthPaper 1A style · multiple choice · 1 mark
  2. S2.3-02 Why metals can be hammeredPaper 1A style · multiple choice · 1 mark
  3. S2.3-03 Spotting metallic bonding from dataPaper 1A style · multiple choice · 1 mark
  4. S2.3-04 Bonding in lithium metalPaper 2 style · structured question · 5 marks
  5. S2.3-05 Metallic bonding across period 4Paper 2 style · structured question · 5 marks

More of S2 Models of bonding and structure

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Every Biology and Chemistry question here is original, written for practice in the style of the papers set since the 2025 syllabus, with invented data. Developed independently from the International Baccalaureate Organization, which has not endorsed it. Found a mistake? Email vytis@limeadmissions.com with the question id.