BTEC Applied Science All questions and
answers 2025/2026 latest update
How many electrons can an s subshell hold? - answer2
How many electrons can a p subshell hold? - answer6
How many electrons can a d subshell hold? - answer10
What is Hund's rule? - answerOrbitals must all be singly filled before they can be doubly occupied
Define the term ionic bond - answerThe electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
What is the charge of an ion from group 1? - answer+1
What is the charge of an ion from group 2? - answer+2
What is the charge of an ion from group 6? - answer-2
What is the charge of an ion from group 7? - answer-1
Explain how atoms of sodium react with atoms of chlorine - answerNa loses its 2s1 electron gaining a
+ve charge.
Cl gains an electron in the 3p subshell gaining a -ve charge.
The opposite charges attract to form NaCl
Why do ionic bonds have such high melting points? - answerEach +ve ion is surrounded by 6 -ve ions and
vice versa.
Strong electrostatic attraction in every direction.
Requires a large amount of energy to break
,State two factors that affect the strength of an ionic bond - answerSize of ion and charge on ion
When can ionic substances conduct electricity? - answerWhen molten or in aqueous solution
Describe the properties of ionic compounds - answerConduct electricity when molten or aqueous
solution
High melting/boiling points
Usually soluble in water
Define the term covalent bond - answerA shared pair of electrons
Which metals lose electrons from the 4s subshell before the 3d subshell? - answerTransition metals
Why do metals have such high melting points? - answerStrong force of attraction between positive ions
and delocalised electrons. This requires a large amount of energy to overcome.
State the two factors that affect the strength of metallic bonding - answerSize of ion
Charge on ion
Explain how the charge on metal ions affects the strength of the metallic bond - answerThe larger the
+ve charge the greater the attraction between the nucleus and the delocalised electrons
Explain how the size of the metal ions affects the strength of the metallic bond - answerThe smaller the
+ve ion the closer the nucleus is to the delocalised electrons creating a greater attraction
Explain why metals conduct electricity - answerThe delocalised electrons 'carry' charge. Current flows
because of this.
Explain why metals conduct heat - answerParticles are paced tightly so kinetic energy is passed from ion
to ion. The delocalised electrons also enable heat to be passed.
, Explain why metals are ductile and malleable - answerThe lattice structure allows layers of metal ions to
slide over each other without disrupting bonding
Name the 3 forces between molecules - answerVan der Waals
Permanent dipole-dipole
Hydrogen bonds
Order the 3 forces between molecules in order of strongest to weakest - answerHydrogen bonds
Permanent dipole-dipole
Van der Waals
How are Van der Waal's forces formed? - answerElectrons move to one side, caused temporary dipole.
This induces a temporary dipole in neighbouring molecules. Attraction occurs between oppositely
charged dipoles
In what molecules do Van der Waal's forces exist? - answerNon-polar molecules
How are permanent dipole-dipole forces formed? - answerPermanent dipole in one molecule attracts
oppositely charged permanent dipole in neighbouring molecule
In which molecules do permanent dipole-dipole forces exist? - answerPolar molecules
Which elements must be present for hydrogen bonds to exist? - answerHydrogen and either nitrogen,
oxygen or fluorine
What is meant by the term displacement? - answerWhen a more reactive element takes the place of a
less reactive element in a compound
State the equation for determining moles - answerMoles = mass ÷ relative atomic mass (molar mass)
(Mass= mr X moles)
answers 2025/2026 latest update
How many electrons can an s subshell hold? - answer2
How many electrons can a p subshell hold? - answer6
How many electrons can a d subshell hold? - answer10
What is Hund's rule? - answerOrbitals must all be singly filled before they can be doubly occupied
Define the term ionic bond - answerThe electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
What is the charge of an ion from group 1? - answer+1
What is the charge of an ion from group 2? - answer+2
What is the charge of an ion from group 6? - answer-2
What is the charge of an ion from group 7? - answer-1
Explain how atoms of sodium react with atoms of chlorine - answerNa loses its 2s1 electron gaining a
+ve charge.
Cl gains an electron in the 3p subshell gaining a -ve charge.
The opposite charges attract to form NaCl
Why do ionic bonds have such high melting points? - answerEach +ve ion is surrounded by 6 -ve ions and
vice versa.
Strong electrostatic attraction in every direction.
Requires a large amount of energy to break
,State two factors that affect the strength of an ionic bond - answerSize of ion and charge on ion
When can ionic substances conduct electricity? - answerWhen molten or in aqueous solution
Describe the properties of ionic compounds - answerConduct electricity when molten or aqueous
solution
High melting/boiling points
Usually soluble in water
Define the term covalent bond - answerA shared pair of electrons
Which metals lose electrons from the 4s subshell before the 3d subshell? - answerTransition metals
Why do metals have such high melting points? - answerStrong force of attraction between positive ions
and delocalised electrons. This requires a large amount of energy to overcome.
State the two factors that affect the strength of metallic bonding - answerSize of ion
Charge on ion
Explain how the charge on metal ions affects the strength of the metallic bond - answerThe larger the
+ve charge the greater the attraction between the nucleus and the delocalised electrons
Explain how the size of the metal ions affects the strength of the metallic bond - answerThe smaller the
+ve ion the closer the nucleus is to the delocalised electrons creating a greater attraction
Explain why metals conduct electricity - answerThe delocalised electrons 'carry' charge. Current flows
because of this.
Explain why metals conduct heat - answerParticles are paced tightly so kinetic energy is passed from ion
to ion. The delocalised electrons also enable heat to be passed.
, Explain why metals are ductile and malleable - answerThe lattice structure allows layers of metal ions to
slide over each other without disrupting bonding
Name the 3 forces between molecules - answerVan der Waals
Permanent dipole-dipole
Hydrogen bonds
Order the 3 forces between molecules in order of strongest to weakest - answerHydrogen bonds
Permanent dipole-dipole
Van der Waals
How are Van der Waal's forces formed? - answerElectrons move to one side, caused temporary dipole.
This induces a temporary dipole in neighbouring molecules. Attraction occurs between oppositely
charged dipoles
In what molecules do Van der Waal's forces exist? - answerNon-polar molecules
How are permanent dipole-dipole forces formed? - answerPermanent dipole in one molecule attracts
oppositely charged permanent dipole in neighbouring molecule
In which molecules do permanent dipole-dipole forces exist? - answerPolar molecules
Which elements must be present for hydrogen bonds to exist? - answerHydrogen and either nitrogen,
oxygen or fluorine
What is meant by the term displacement? - answerWhen a more reactive element takes the place of a
less reactive element in a compound
State the equation for determining moles - answerMoles = mass ÷ relative atomic mass (molar mass)
(Mass= mr X moles)
