This document provides directions for an activity where students will use Skittles to model the formation of ionic and covalent bonds between various atoms. For the ionic bond portion, students demonstrate the transfer of electrons from one atom to another to form ions and explain how opposite charges attract to form bonds. For covalent bonds, students show the sharing of electron pairs between atoms and explain how this sharing achieves stable noble gas configurations. The document concludes with questions about ionic versus covalent bonding concepts.

1. Name: ___________________________
Ionic and Covalent Bonding Activity
Materials: - 24 Skittles
-Electron diagram sheet
Directions: Using the electron diagram sheet and the Skittles, you will demonstrate the
structure of different atoms and how they would form chemical bonds in order to become
stable compounds. The Skittles represent the electrons. You will then answer the
questions below.
For # 1-6 Demonstrate, using the Skittles, an ionic bond between the following atoms:
1. Be and O
Which element gives away electrons? _________________
How many electrons are given away? _________________
What is the charge of each ion after the bond? ___________________
Why are the 2 ions bonded together (what attracts them to each other)?
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Na and H
Which element gives away electrons?_______________________
How many electrons are given away? _________________
What is the charge of each ion after the bond? ___________________
Why are the 2 ions bonded together (what attracts them to each other)?
_______________________________________________________________________
3. F and Li
Which element gives away electrons?_______________________
How many electrons are given away? _________________
What is the charge of each ion after the bond? ___________________
Why are the 2 ions bonded together (what attracts them to each other)?
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Mg and O
Which element gives away electrons?_______________________
How many electrons are given away? _________________
What is the charge of each ion after the bond? ___________________
Why are the 2 ions bonded together (what attracts them to each other)?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. B and N
Which element gives away electrons?_______________________
How many electrons are given away? _________________
What is the charge of each ion after the bond? ___________________
Why are the 2 ions bonded together (what attracts them to each other)?
_______________________________________________________________________

2. 6. Ne and He
Which element gives away electrons?_______________________
How many electrons are given away? _________________
What is the charge of each ion after the bond? ___________________
Why are the 2 ions bonded together (what attracts them to each other)?
_______________________________________________________________________
Directions: For # 7-10, demonstrate, using Skittles, a covalent bond between the
following atoms:
7. F and He
How many electrons are they sharing? ______________________
Why are they sharing the electron(s)? ____________________________________
8. O and He
How many electrons are they sharing? _________________________
Why are they sharing the electron(s)? ____________________________________
9. N and Ne
How many electrons are they sharing? _________________________
Why are they sharing the electron(s)? ____________________________________
10. H and Ne
How many electrons are they sharing? __________________________
Why are they sharing the electron(s)? _____________________________________
Directions: Answer the questions below.
1) What is an ionic bond? __________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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2) What is a covalent bond? _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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3) Why are ions (charged particles) created in ionic bonds but not in covalent bonds?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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4) What is the charge of an ionic compound?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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3. 5) What is the difference between an ionic and covalent bond? _____________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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