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#10

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hyunsoon120
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Experiment #10.

Intermolecular Forces

The shape (also known as geometry) of a molecule influences its properties. Symmetrical shapes lead to
electrons being evenly distributed throughout the molecule and are called non-polar. Unsymmetrical
shapes lead to molecules with more electrons on one side than the other. This imbalance leads to a
partial positive and negative within the molecule known as a dipole. Molecules with dipoles are known
as polar molecules. Polar molecules are attracted to magnetic and electric fields.

Determining Polarity of Molecules

A covalent bond is polar if there is a difference in electronegativity between the bonded atoms. An
entire molecule will be polar if the bond dipoles do not cancel. Polar molecules have a positive and a
negative end and behave like tiny magnets. The shape of the molecule determines if dipoles cancel or
not.

Polar molecules-bond dipoles do not cancel.

Have a lone pair on the central atom OR different outer atoms.

H-S

S=C

dipoles don't cancel

Non-polar molecules-bond dipoles cancel.

Have no lone pairs on the central atom AND have all outer atoms the same.
0:

dipoles cancel

Intermolecular Forces (IMFs)

IMFs hold molecules together into solids and liquids. The stronger the IMFs, the higher the boiling and
melting point of a compound. The forces between covalent compounds are relatively weak, so covalent
molecules tend to have low boiling and melting points. IMFs are summarized in the table below.

IMFs

found in covalent compounds strongest

hydrogen bonds

dipole-dipole forces

dispersion forces

Found in

molecules with H-F, H-O, or H-N bonds

polar molecules
all molecules (only force in non-polar molecules)

Description

extreme case of dipole-dipole, occurs with small, highly electronegative atoms

attraction between 8+ and 8-

attraction between temporary dipoles

Examples

H_{2}*O

N*H_{3}

C*H_{2}*B*r_{2} P*H_{3}

C H 4 1 C*O_{2}

weakest

Intermolecular forces are the glue that holds covalent molecules together, the stronger they are, the
stickier the molecules are. As a result, these intermolecular forces influence many properties of
substances:
Stronger IMFs result in:

Higher boiling and melting points

Increased surface tension

Lower evaporation rates and lower vapor pressure

Surface Tension

Surface tension is the amount of energy required to stretch or increase the surface of a liquid. Molecules
at the surface are less stable because they are only held together by molecules on one side. Surface
tension results from the need to minimize the amount of surface to a liquid. The stronger the IMFs, the
higher surface tension.

(credit photo: OpenStax Chemistry modification of work by "OliBac"/Flickr)

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