Mississippi Science CHE.4.3
The Standard
- CHE.4
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the types of bonds and resulting atomic structures for the classification of chemical compounds.
Predict the ionic or covalent nature of different atoms based on electronegativity trends and/or position on the periodic table.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Bonding
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students predict whether a pair of atoms will form an ionic or covalent bond. They use the atoms’ positions on the periodic table or compare their electronegativity values.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given Na-Cl, H-Cl, and C-O, a student labels Na-Cl ionic and the other two covalent. They explain each choice using element types or electronegativity differences.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may call H-Cl ionic because hydrogen and chlorine attract electrons with different strengths. Some think atoms on the left side of a periodic-table row attract bonding electrons more strongly than atoms on the right.
How to Assess It
- Ask students to label Na-Cl and H-Cl as ionic or covalent, then justify each answer using periodic-table positions or electronegativity values.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give students element cards and a periodic table; have them sort Na-Cl, H-Cl, and C-O into ionic and covalent piles.
Ask: Why is H-Cl covalent but Na-Cl ionic, even though both pairs contain chlorine? Have students write one periodic-table clue.
Show six atom pairs on the board; students race to label each ionic or covalent, then check their answers with electronegativity values.
Show salt and sugar packets, with NaCl and C12H22O11 written on the board; students predict each substance’s bond type from its elements.
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Printable CHE.4.3 Worksheet
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