Introduction to Crystal Structure: Bond Strength

Dexter Perkins

University of North Dakota

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Initial Publication Date: August 7, 2006 | Reviewed: November 2, 2013 (see revision history: 3 events)

Summary

This is an exercise to get students thinking about coordination number and bond strength
It is really an application of Pauling's Rules, mostly rule #2

Crystal Chemistry | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

For use in an undergraduate mineralogy class.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students must know what ions and ionic bonding are
Students must know the meaning of "coordination number"
Students must have been exposed to Pauling's Rule #2 (the electrostatic valence principle)

How the activity is situated in the course

This is a group activity and is one of several activities that students do as they investigate the laws that govern atomic arrangement in crystal structures.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

It is one thing to talk in the abstract about ionic bond strength and another to do some exercises to help really comprehend
So, this exercise is intended to help students see how Pauling's second law applies to minerals structures

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

This exercise involves observation of fundamental chemical principles
This exercise involves analysis of fundamental chemical principles
This exercise involves application of fundamental chemical principles

Other skills goals for this activity

This exercise helps promote group activity
This exercise also promotes self-learning skills

Description of the activity/assignment

This exercise is designed to familiarize students with some basic crystal structures
The exercise helps students fully understand the nature and significance of ionic bonds and Pauling's second rule
It also builds a bit on Pauling's first rule (radius ratio principle)
It is one of several related activities, all of which are intended to help students understand the nature of ionic crystals