Ionic Bonding and Lattice Structure
What You Will Learn: Ionic Bonding and Lattice Structure · Formation of Ions and Ionic Bonds · The Giant Ionic Lattice
IB Chemistry topic guide
Structure 2: Bonding and Structure
Structure 2: Bonding and Structure is a core part of IB Chemistry. This guide connects the syllabus ideas behind Ionic Bonding and Lattice Structure, Properties of Ionic Compounds, Covalent Bonding, Bond Polarity and Intermolecular Forces, Metallic Bonding and 2 more units, shows how they appear in worked problems, and points you to the formulas and full lessons needed for exam revision.
What you will learn
Structure 2: Bonding and Structure syllabus outline
The units below follow the structure used in the full Study to Learn course. Use the outline to identify exactly which idea needs attention, then work through the public example before continuing to the complete lesson path.
Properties of Ionic Compounds
What You Will Learn: Properties of Ionic Compounds · Melting Point, Conductivity, and Solubility · Lattice Enthalpy and Ionic Bond Strength
Covalent Bonding
What You Will Learn: Covalent Bonding · Covalent Bonds and Lewis Structures · VSEPR Theory and Molecular Shapes
Bond Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
What You Will Learn: Bond Polarity and Intermolecular Forces · Electronegativity and Bond Polarity · Intermolecular Forces: London, Dipole–Dipole, and Hydrogen Bonding
Metallic Bonding
What You Will Learn: Metallic Bonding · The Electron Sea Model · Trends in Metallic Bond Strength
Alloys and Conductivity
What You Will Learn: Alloys and Conductivity · Alloys: Modifying Metal Properties · Conductivity and the Effect of Alloying
From Models to Materials
What You Will Learn: From Models to Materials · Giant Covalent Structures: Diamond, Graphite, and SiO₂ · Comparing Material Properties Across Bonding Types
Free worked preview
What You Will Learn: Ionic Bonding and Lattice Structure
This complete preview comes from the Ionic Bonding and Lattice Structure unit. It introduces the core language, shows the method in context, and gives you a real example of the lesson quality before you create an account.
What You Will Learn: Ionic Bonding and Lattice Structure
Section B moves from the atomic structure of Section A to how atoms combine, and this topic starts with the simplest bonding model: electron transfer between metals and non-metals. The first lesson shows how to predict ionic charges and write balanced ionic formulas; the second zooms into the 3D lattice that ions form once bonded, explaining coordination number and why different compounds adopt different lattice geometries. The two lessons move logically from forming individual ionic bonds to the giant repeating structure those bonds build — setting up the properties of ionic compounds covered next in B1.2.
What You'll Cover
- How ions form by electron transfer, how to predict ionic charges from group number, and how to write balanced ionic formulas.
- The structure of the giant ionic lattice, coordination number, and how radius ratio determines lattice geometry (e.g. NaCl vs CsCl).
By the end of this topic you will understand both how ionic bonds form and the 3D structure they build.
Reviewed by the Study to Learn editorial team · Updated 2026-08-04