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Ionic and Covalent Bonds | Virtual Lab

High School
Higher Education
Chemistry
Health Sciences
Biology
Ionic and Covalent Bonds
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About This Simulation

Join your friend on a quest to analyze two mysterious substances he got from an alchemist to cure his migraine and learn how atoms connect.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the formation of ionic and covalent bonds
  • Identify anions and cations
  • Apply the octet rule
  • Describe ionic lattice structure
  • Draw Lewis dot structures
  • Explain the formation of single, double, and triple bonds
  • Distinguish between ionic compounds and covalent compounds

About This Simulation

Level:
High School
Higher Education
Length:
39
Min
Accessibility Mode:
Available
Languages:
English
German
Spanish
French
Italian

Lab Techniques

  • Conductivity measurement
  • Melting point determination
No lab techniques are listed for this simulation.

Related Standards

University:
NGSS:
  • HS-PS1-1
  • HS-PS2-6
AP:
  • 2.3. Structure of Ionic Solids
  • 2.5 Lewis Diagrams
  • 2.1 Types of Chemical Bonds
LB:
  • 4.1 Ionic bonding and structure
  • 4.3 Covalent structures
  • 4.2 Covalent bonding
No lab techniques are listed for this simulation.

Learn More About This Simulation

Have you ever wondered how atoms are held together? In this simulation, you will learn the basics about atomic bonding in ionic and covalent compounds and how to distinguish those compounds experimentally. With all this knowledge, you will help your friend analyze two mysterious substances he received from an alchemist. By testing their specific physical properties, you’ll be able to identify the nature of the substances. Finally, you will learn how ions form lattice structures and how this influences the property of a compound.

Test solubility and conductivity

Atoms can interact in many different ways, giving compound-specific properties. In the first mission of the Ionic and Covalent Bonds simulation, your task is to choose appropriate laboratory equipment to test the solubility and conductivity of the two substances. You will explore how these properties differ in ionic and covalent compounds.

Draw Lewis dot structures

In the second part of the Ionic and Covalent Bonds simulation, you will learn about the octet rule and how to apply this to building Lewis dot structures in a virtual drawing activity. You will see that there are many ways that covalent bonds can be formed, depending on the compound and electron configuration. You will also learn how to identify lone electron pairs in a covalent bond.

Determine melting points

In the last mission, your task is to determine the melting point of the two substances by using a melting point apparatus. You will explore how your results are connected to the ability of ions to form a lattice structure.

Will you be able to identify the two mysterious substances and help your friend cure his migraine?

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