Chemistry Is as Easy as 2–3–4 (Types of Atoms—Chemical Bonds—Crystal Lattices)

The main idea of this approach is that the teaching of general chemistry should begin with simple basic facts about (i) the two types of elements (metals and nonmetals) that can combine in (ii) three ways to form chemical interatomic bonds (metallic, ionic, and covalent) and that intermolecular (interparticle) forces can lead to condensed phases with (iii) four types of crystalline lattices (metallic, ionic, covalent, and molecular). Only afterwards should the more sophisticated details, discussing metalloids, polar covalent bonds or two-electron-three-center bonds, hydrogen bonds or bridges, and other intermolecular forces, be discussed.