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Date May 2017 Marks available 2 Reference code 17M.3.sl.TZ1.6
Level SL Paper 3 Time zone TZ1
Command term Determine Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

Lanthanum, La, and antimony, Sb, form compounds with bromine that have similar formulas, LaBr3 and SbBr3.

Determine the type of bond present in SbBr3, showing your method. Use sections 8 and 29 of the data booklet.

[2]
a.

Lanthanum has a similar electronegativity to group 2 metals. Explain, in terms of bonding and structure, why crystalline lanthanum bromide is brittle.

[2]
b.

Markscheme

polar covalent

average electronegativity «= 1 2 (3.0 + 2.0)» = 2.5 AND electronegativity difference «= 3.0 – 2.0» = 1.0

[2 marks]

a.

ionic bonding
OR
electrostatic forces between ions

«slight» movement brings ions of same charge adjacent to each other «causing the crystal to break»
OR
«slight» movement results in repulsion between layers «causing the crystal to break»

[2 marks]

b.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.

Syllabus sections

Options » A: Materials » A.1 Materials science introduction
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Core » Topic 4: Chemical bonding and structure » 4.2 Covalent bonding
Options » A: Materials
Core » Topic 4: Chemical bonding and structure
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