Atomic structure and bonding

What to revise

• atoms, molecules and ions; the work of Dalton, Millikan, Rutherford, Moseley, Thomson and Bohr
• atomic structure: four quantum numbers, arrangement of electrons in orbitals, electron configuration, atomic number, mass number, isotopes (elements of atomic number 1-20)
• shapes of s and p orbitals
• the periodic table and periodicity: alkali and alkaline-earth metals, halogens, noble gases, transition metals; variation of ionization energy, ionic radii, electron affinity, electronegativity, electrical and thermal conductivity
• chemical bonding: electrovalency and covalency; hydrogen and metallic bonding; coordinate bond (e.g. [Fe(CN)6]3-, [Fe(CN)6]4-, [Cu(NH3)4]2+, [Ag(NH3)2]+); van der Waals forces
• shapes of simple molecules: linear (H2, O2, Cl2, HCl, CO2), non-linear (H2O), tetrahedral (CH4), pyramidal (NH3)

You should be able to

• distinguish between atoms, molecules and ions
• identify the contributions of these scientists to atomic structure
• deduce the number of protons, neutrons and electrons from atomic and mass numbers
• apply the rules guiding the arrangement of electrons in an atom
• identify common elements exhibiting isotopy and relate isotopy to mass number
• perform simple calculations relating to isotopy
• differentiate between the shapes of the orbitals
• determine the number of electrons in s and p orbitals
• relate atomic number to the position of an element on the periodic table
• relate properties of groups of elements on the periodic table
• identify reasons for variation in properties across the period and down the groups
• differentiate between the types of bonding
• deduce bond types based on electron configurations
• relate the nature of bonding to properties of compounds
• differentiate between the various shapes of molecules

From JAMB's Chemistry syllabus official. Full syllabus →

eZine's published bank has 20 questions on this topic (counted 29 October 2026).

Practice questions