Bonding Continuum | IAL Chemistry Unit 1

A complete, ready-to-teach lesson on the bonding continuum (ionic to covalent) for Pearson Edexcel International A Level Chemistry, Unit 1 (WCH11). See how small, highly charged cations distort large anions to give ionic compounds covalent character, and how electronegativity difference makes covalent bonds polar.

Every diagram is redrawn as editable PowerPoint shapes and builds click by click, so you can talk through each stage. Detailed teacher notes on every slide mean it works for your own teaching, a cover lesson or a new colleague.

What’s included (26 slides):

• Learning objectives slide
• Watch it: 8 step-by-step diagram slides with click-by-click builds and a caption on each
• Try it: “Ionic or covalent character?” activity table, with a separate answer slide
• Check it: 4 quick multiple-choice questions for mini-whiteboards, with answers and explanations
• Exam tip slide: where students most often lose marks
• 6 exam-style questions (12 marks), each followed by a full mark scheme with examiner notes
• Key fact plenary slide
• Teacher notes on every slide: starter, questions to ask at each click, common misconceptions, stretch and support, plenary and homework

By the end of the lesson, students can:

• Describe a perfect ionic bond and explain how polarisation gives ionic compounds covalent character
• Explain how cation charge density and anion size affect polarisation
• Use electronegativity differences to explain polar and non-polar covalent bonds
• Place compounds on the continuum from ionic to pure covalent

Fully editable .pptx; also opens in Google Slides and Keynote. Original resource written for the Edexcel IAL specification; not endorsed by Pearson.