Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol
Geochemistry
Prof. D.M. Sherman and Dr. T.R. Elliott
Lecture 2: Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding
Overview
Now that we have created the elements, we are going to determine the stable electronic configurations (ions) that elements adopt.
Then we will use a simple ionic bonding model (Pauling's Rules) to predict the
formation of silicate and oxide minerals.
Objectives
You should be able to:
work out the electronic configurations and stable oxidation states of the elements.
using Pauling's rules to predict the coordination numbers of cations and the stable
atomic arrangements of simple ionic compounds.