Exam Focus

🎯 Exam Focus

Frequently Examined

Metallic bonding questions are common, particularly comparing metals to ionic compounds:

• Explain how metals conduct electricity — delocalised electrons free to move (2 marks)
• Explain why metals are malleable/ductile — layers of ions slide, electron sea maintains bond (2 marks)
• Compare metallic and ionic conductivity — metals conduct as solids; ionic only when molten/dissolved (2-3 marks)
• Predict relative melting points of two metals — higher charge / more electrons = higher MP (2 marks)

The critical phrase for conductivity answers is: "delocalised electrons are free to move and carry charge."

Edexcel 1CH0: Examined in Paper 1 (1CH0/1). Edexcel metallic bonding questions ask students to explain electrical conductivity (delocalised electrons), malleability (layers slide without breaking bonds), and compare metal melting points in terms of ion charge and electron density. Comparing metallic bonding conductivity to ionic compounds (solid vs molten) is a common 3-mark question. In Edexcel-style questions, the command word "Suggest" appears frequently — use your chemistry knowledge to apply to an unfamiliar context.