Question

What type(s) of bonding would be expected for each of the following materials: brass (a copper-zinc alloy), rubber, barium sulfide (BaS), solid xenon, bronze, nylon, and aluminum phosphide (AlP)?

Answer 1

The force of attraction that results in holding of atoms or ions together in a molecule or crystal is said be bonding.  Bond formation can take place by either attraction or transfer of electrons. There are single, double, and triple bonds.  There are many types of bonding namely:

Covalent (sharing of electrons takes place).

Ionic (transfer of electrons takes place).

Metallic (ionized atoms of metals and the sea of electrons around them).

• Brass (a copper-zinc alloy)

Brass is an alloy of metal that is copper and zinc. Hence, the metallic bonding is present in the brass.

• Rubber

It is a polymer whose monomer unit is isoprene, which is a covalent compound. The isoprene units are attached in repeated units to form rubber by covalent bonding.

• Barium sulfide ($BaS$)

Due to the large electronegativity difference between barium and sulfur, barium sulfide is an ionic compound. Thus, ionic bonding is present in barium sulfide.

• Solid xenon

Only xenon atoms are present in solid xenon which are interacted by weak Van der Waal's interactions.

• Bronze

Bronze is an alloy of metal that is copper and tin. Hence, the metallic bonding is present in the brass.

• Nylon

It is a polymer whose monomer unit is caprolactam, which is a covalent compound. The caprolactam units are attached in repeated units to form nylon by covalent bonding.

• Aluminum phosphide ($AlP$)

Aluminum phosphide is a covalent compound and thus involves covalent bonding.