8 original questions from New Regents. The worksheet, answer key, and browser practice are free.
Crystal Structure and Brittleness 4 questions
Crystal Structure and Brittleness
New Regents original practice • Name: ____________________ Date: __________ Show your work for written answers.
In the ionic crystal model, positive and negative ions repeat in an ordered arrangement. Opposite charges attract and like charges repel.
Question 1
Which pair of neighboring ions attracts in the model?
- Na⁺ and Na⁺
- Cl⁻ and Cl⁻
- Na⁺ and Cl⁻
- Two positively charged ions
Question 2
Explain why the arrangement of both types of ion matters for holding an ionic crystal together.
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Question 3
Which change can create repulsion across neighboring rows in an ionic crystal?
- Bring a positive ion next to a negative ion.
- Shift one row so positive ions sit next to positive ions.
- Move opposite charges closer while leaving the pattern in place.
- Add a neutral label outside the crystal.
Question 4
A metal can often bend as its layers shift. Explain one difference between metallic bonding and the ionic-crystal model.
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Model of Two Ion Layers 4 questions
Model of Two Ion Layers
Use the information below to answer the questions.
A model shows a short repeating segment of two layers. Match the top and bottom charges in each column to see which ions face one another. The top layer moves by one ion spacing in the shifted model.
| Layer and state | Position 1 | Position 2 | Position 3 | Position 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top before shift | + | − | + | − |
| Bottom before shift | − | + | − | + |
| Top after shift | − | + | − | + |
| Bottom after shift | − | + | − | + |
Question 5
Before the shift, how many shown columns have opposite charges facing one another?
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 4
Question 6
Count the shown columns with like charges after the shift. Use the signs to show the count.
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Question 7
Which interaction increases across the layers after the shift?
- Attraction between opposite charges
- Repulsion between like charges
- Sharing of electron pairs between every ion
- Attraction between neutrons
Question 8
Use the charge pattern to explain why a strong push can fracture the ionic crystal in this model.
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