← Bonding, structure, properties and energy changes
Reading the notation
A small set of terms and symbols carries every part of this paper — the schedules reward you for naming them precisely, not just describing them.📖 Symbols and terms used in bonding & energy
6 termsCover the right column and check you can say what each one means.
- ΔrH
- The enthalpy change of a reaction — negative for exothermic, positive for endothermic.
- VSEPR
- Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion — regions of electron density arrange for maximum separation, giving the parent geometry; bonded regions only give the final molecular shape.
- Region of electron density
- A bonding pair, a lone pair, or a multiple bond — counted ONCE each around the central atom, regardless of how many bonds a double/triple bond represents.
- Dipole
- A separation of partial charge (δ+/δ−) along a polar bond, caused by a difference in electronegativity.
- Symmetry (of dipoles)
- Whether the bond dipoles around a central atom point in directions that cancel (non-polar overall) or do not cancel (polar overall).
- Bond enthalpy / bond energy
- The energy needed to break one mole of a specific bond — always positive; the same amount is released when that bond forms.
Practice for this standard covers the whole topic — flashcards and quiz.