General

Chemistry 2 11
Quarter 3
Module 1
Types of Intermolecular
Forces
 L E S S ON

“How do coronavirus spread?”

There are many factors that lead to the acing spread of coronavirus. It could
be transmitted from person to person via droplets, contact, and fomites. When one
sneezes or coughs droplets of saliva containing the COVID-19 virus are then inhaled
by another person. It is so sad to note that COVID-19 transmission usually occurs
among close contacts which affects our family members. Therefore, it is important to
maintain a distance of more than 1 meter away from any person who has respiratory
symptoms. The closer we are with this kind of virus the greater the chance we get
infected leading to a worst effect in our health.
Likewise, in chemistry, if a molecule is exposed or placed near to another
molecule the tendency is that they get attracted and build up a force that will hold
them together. The force between these molecules will greatly affect some of their
physical properties such as melting point and boiling points. What do you think are
these forces that hold together one molecule to another molecule? We call these forces
as intermolecular forces. Ok, let us have a walkthrough on these intermolecular
forces.

Types of Intermolecular Forces (IMF)

The interaction between molecules ( substances that are made of atoms that bond
through the sharing of electrons to form covalent bonds) are governed by physical
forces called intermolecular forces. These are forces that arise from the way in how
electrons are shared within the covalent bonds of different molecules. These types of
forces also affect the physical properties of compounds which will be further
explained in this module. The following are the different types of intermolecular
forces:

A. Ion Ion Interaction

What are ions? How does it build an attraction with the other ions? Ions are
charged particles or have permanent whole number charges. Remember that like
charges repel each other and opposite charges attract, as shown in figure 1. The
attraction between these ions are pulled together by a force called an electrostatic
force. Remember that electrostatic force as stated in Coulomb`s Law is directly
proportional to the charge of the ions and inversely related to the distance between
them. The equation is also shown in figure 1.
 Figure 1

How do we determine the strength of the built forces between ions? As shown in the
equation, the strength of the electrostatic force that is built depends on the product
of the charges (Z1Z2) divided by the square of the distance of separation (d2). Meaning
that as the particles (ions) get attracted the force between these ions becomes
stronger as they get closer. The attraction between these ions is called ion-ion
interaction.

Let us have examples by comparing the molecules below. Which from these
ions will have a stronger ion-ion interaction?

According to the equation given in the figure above, the higher the magnitude
of the charges the higher is the electrostatic force, so the interaction between Ca +2
and O-2 ions is stronger than the Na+ and Cl- ions. Why? Because the charges in
calcium and oxygen are higher than the sodium and chloride ions. In the case of ions
with the same charges, this time you have to take note of the size of the ions because
as the size of the ion increases the electrostatic force decreases.

The physical property such as the melting point of a compound is greatly

affected by the magnitude of the lattice energy or the electrostatic energy built
between the ions. Meaning that the higher the electrostatic force between molecules
will have a higher melting point. To illustrate this, let us compare Aluminum nitride
and Magnesium oxide, wherein aluminum nitride will have a higher magnitude of
charge which is +3 for aluminum and -3 for nitrogen, while magnesium oxide is
lower having +2 for magnesium and -2 charge for oxygen. Therefore, the molecule that
has a higher melting point is aluminum nitride.

B. Ion Diplole Interaction

Ion dipole interaction is very evident when pouring water molecules around
sodium ions which is the case when dissolving sodium chloride in water.
 Figure 3
Water is a permanent dipole molecule because it has positive and negative poles as
a result of the uneven distribution of electrons within it. So when a molecule has two
opposite partial charges they are dipole and polar. Once water molecules surround
the sodium ions, the oxygen that is partially negative in the water molecule will be
attracted to the sodium ion which is positively charged. Eventually, the positively
charged hydrogen in the water molecule will be attracted to the chloride ion.

C. Dipole-dipole Interaction

From the given compounds above, which do you think is a dipole molecule, and why?
Yes, all of the given compounds are all dipole molecules. What makes them dipole is
because of the partial opposite charges present in the molecule. When we say dipole-
dipole interaction, we are referring to the interaction of the two dipole molecules such
as between molecules of carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid, and nitrogen
trifluoride. Wherein the two poles of each molecule is either partially positive or
partially negative. So let us have an example to illustrate this type of interaction.

Figure 4
Figure 4 shows the molecules of nitrogen trifluoride where fluorine is more
electronegative than nitrogen. And once a molecule of nitrogen trifluoride reacts with
another molecule of nitrogen trifluoride, the partially negative fluoride ions will get
attracted to the partially positively charged nitrogen of another nitrogen trifluoride
molecule. The attraction between the opposite charges is called dipole-dipole
interaction. And if we put in another nitrogen trifluoride, this molecule will rearrange
itself in such a way that the partial positive of the nitrogen in this molecule is
attracted to the partially positive on the fluorines of the other nitrogen trifluoride
molecule. The same thing will happen to the molecules of hydrochloric acid and
carbon monoxide which are shown below in figure 5 and figure 6.
 Figure 5 Figure 6
D. Hydrogen Bond Interaction

What do you think is the most obvious similarities among the molecules
below?

The given above molecules exhibit a special kind of dipole-dipole interaction that
occurs specifically between a hydrogen atom bonded to either an oxygen, nitrogen,
or fluorine atom. Meaning that the hydrogen is partially positive and is attracted to
the nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine which are partially negative. The strength of
hydrogen bonding is relatively strong that requires energy to break it. No wonder why
water molecules have high boiling points and melting points. Hydrogen bonding also
plays a vital role in holding the nucleotide bases together in our DNA and RNA.
Take note that you might be claiming the bond between hydrogen and fluorine atoms
is a hydrogen bond. It is not, because if we say the intermolecular type of interaction,
we are considering the attraction between molecules not within the molecule. Figure
7 and figure 8 show the hydrogen bonding for the ammonia and hydrofluoric acid.

Figure 7 Figure 8
The strength of the hydrogen bonding depends on the extensiveness or number of
formed hydrogen bonds and the polarity of the bond. The arrangement of the strength
of the hydrogen bond is H-O< H-N <H-F because H-F is a highly polar molecule.

E. London dispersion Interaction / Van der Waals Intermolecular Forces

This type of interaction happens to be present in all types of molecules whether ionic
or covalent-polar or nonpolar. However, this type of intermolecular force is significant
in nonpolar molecules and the force is developed due to the uneven distribution of
electrons and create a temporary dipole. This type of force is a very weak type of
dipole interaction. The force between these molecules increases with the polarizability
(squishiness of a molecule), molecular size (more electrons), and pi bonding
(overlapping of orbitals).
 Figure 9
The above figure 9 shows the increasing size of the molecules from the halogen group.
So from the molecules above the iodine molecule would have a stronger London
dispersion force.
London dispersion force (LDF) is responsible for the liquid phase of noble gases.
Figure 9 shows how helium gets into the liquid phase. The figure shows that originally
we have two atoms of Helium. But once these two atoms get closer, the electrons
outside the nucleus of helium will migrate in such a way that the electrons of the
other helium atom will get attracted to the proton of the other helium. This attraction
between opposite charges is the Coulombs`s Law, thus creating a temporary dipole.
The London dispersion force is simply the connection between these two atoms.

Figure 10

Arrangement on the strength of force present among the types of intermolecular

forces is shown in figure 11.
Figure 11

Among these types, the strongest type of intermolecular forces is ion-ion dipole
because of the permanent charge while London dispersion forces are the weakest
because of the presence of temporary dipole and they are usually in gas forms.
Strong intermolecular forces increase the physical behavior of the molecules
such as melting points, boiling points, viscosity, and surface area.
 Use these facts on the types of intermolecular forces in answering the following
activities.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1
Direction: Analyze each of the following statements whether it describes the types of
intermolecular forces. Write TRUE if the statement is correct but if it’s false, change
the underlined word or group of words to make the whole statement true. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. London dispersion is evident in nonpolar molecules.

2. Hydrogen bonding refers to a hydrogen from one molecule boded to N, F, and Br
to the other molecule.
3. Ion-dipole interaction leads to the building of forces between nonpolar molecules.
4. According to ion-ion interaction, the electrostatic force increases as the size of
the magnitude of charges decreases.
5. Dipole-dipole interaction is significant between an ion and a dipole molecule.

Now, use these facts on types of intermolecular forces in answering Activity 2.

Activity 2
Direction: Complete the table by writing all types of intermolecular forces (IMF) that
will exhibit between the pairs of molecules.
Pairs of molecules Type(s) IMF
1. O=C=O and O=C=O

2.

3.
 4.

5.

Let us have a try out on how well is your understanding in analyzing the importance
of applying these types of intermolecular forces in our daily life. Do activity 3.

Activity 3

Direction: Rank the following molecules according to the stated physical property.

1. Rank the following in terms of increasing boiling point: CaBr2 C2H5OH

C4H10
_________________________________________________________________________________

2. Rank these substances from lowest to highest intermolecular forces:

HF F2 PCl3
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Rank the following in terms of increasing melting point:

MgCl2 NaCl AlCl3
__________________________________________________________________________________

WRAP–UP
Direction: Complete the table by describing the types of intermolecular forces and
arrange these types according to increasing strength by numbering them 1-5.

Types of Intermolecular Description of the types of Strength of

Forces Intermolecular Forces Intermolecular Forces
Io-ion interaction
Ion-dipole interaction
Diopole-dipole interaction
Hydrogen bond
London dispersion force
 VALUING

Just like molecules, humans are also attracted to one another. As a teenager,
you have experienced being attracted to someone. How did you deal with your
attractions to others? Do you listen to your parents for advice on this matter?

Finally, you made it! Take your last step and good luck!

POST TEST
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer and write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. What type(s) of intermolecular forces can exist between HF and H2S?

A. Hydrogen bonding
B. London dispersion
C. Dipole-dipole
D. Ionic bonding

2. What type(s) of intermolecular forces can exist between I 2 and CBr4?

A. Hydrogen bonding
B. London dispersion
C. Dipole-dipole
D. Ionic bonding

3. What type(s) of intermolecular forces can exist C2H6 and BF3?

A. Dipole-induced dipole
B. Hydrogen bonding
C. London dispersion
D. Ionic bonding

4. Which of the following will form a hydrogen bond with NH3?

A. H2O B. CH4 C. Cl2 D. CO2
5. Which of the following shows the increasing boiling points of halogens?
A. F2 < I2 < Br2 < Cl2
B. I2 < Cl2 < Br2 < F2
C. Cl2 < Br2 < I2 < F2
D. F2 < Cl2 < Br2 < I2