Intermolecular Forces of Solids

and their Properties

How is a solid described in terms of the Kinetic Molecular
Theory?

a. Average kinetic energy

b. Distance among particles
c. Arrangement/order of particles
d. Attractive forces between particles
 FOCUS QUESTIONS:

• What are the two general types of solids?

• What features can be used to distinguish a
crystalline solid from an amorphous solid?
 Two Groups of Solids
• Crystalline solids
• Amorphous solids

Determinant: Arrangement of particles in the

solid.
 Two Groups of Solids
• Crystalline solids – long continuous pattern
• Amorphous solids – no pattern

Determinant: Arrangement of particles in the

solid.
Crystalline Solids
vs
Amorphous Solids
 1. Arrangement of particles
• The components of a solid can be arranged in two
general ways:
 A regular repeating three-dimensional structure
called a crystal lattice = crystalline solid
 >An aggregate with no particular long range order
= amorphous solid (from the Greek ámorphos,
meaning “shapeless”)
 Crystalline Solids
• fixed geometric patterns or lattices
• E.g. are ice and sodium chloride (NaCl), copper
sulfate (CuSO4), diamond, graphite, and sugar
(C12H22O11).
 Crystalline Solids
• The ordered arrangement of their units
maximizes the space they occupy and are
essentially incompressible.
 Amorphous solids
• random orientation of particles
• E.g. glass, plastic, coal, and rubber. They are
considered super-cooled liquids where
molecules are arranged in a random manner
similar to the liquid state.
Amorphous solids (e.g. glass), like liquids, do not
have long range order, but may have a limited,
localized order in their structures.
Amorphous Quartz
 2. Behavior when heated
The presence or absence of long-range order in
the structure of solids results in a difference in
the behavior of the solid when heated.
The structures of crystalline solids are built
from repeating units called crystal lattices.
In summary:
Uniform particles = uniform arrangement =
similar attractive force = needs same amount of
energy to break
Thus, crystals become liquids at a specific
temperature (i.e. the melting point). At this
temperature, physical properties of the crystalline
solids change sharply.

Crystalline solids have a sharp melting point.

Amorphous solids soften gradually when they are
heated.
In summary:
varying particles = varying arrangement = different
attractive forces = unequal amount of energy to
break
Thus, some parts of the solid melt ahead of other
parts
 FOCUS QUESTIONS:
• What are the four types of crystals?
• What form of unit particles makes up each type of crystal?
• What forces bind the unit particles and the properties of each
type of crystal?
FOUR TYPES OF CRYSTALS
 1. METALLIC CRYSTALS
• Atoms = readily lose electrons to form positive
ions (cations)
• Metal atoms give up their electrons to the
whole crystal = a structure made up of an
orderly arrangement of cations surrounded by
delocalized electrons that move around the
crystal
 1. METALLIC CRYSTALS
• electrostatic interactions between the cations
and delocalized electron hold the crystal
together = metallic bonds.
• This model of metallic bonding is called the
“sea of electrons” model.
Metallic Crystal Properties:
 2. IONIC CRYSTALS
• made of ions (cations and anions)
• strong electrostatic interactions = hold the crystal lattice
together
 Explanation of properties:
• The energy needed to break an ionic crystal will
depend on:
– magnitude of charges on the ions
2+ and 2- ions attract each other stronger in MgO than
1+ and 1- in NaCl
– sizes of the ions (less attraction between the bigger
ions = less heat energy is needed to separate them)
Ionic Crystal Properties:
• Ionic crystals are brittle, and would shatter
into small pieces when deformed or when
pressure is applied on the crystal. The shifting
of ions cause repulsions between particles of
like charges.
 3. MOLECULAR CRYSTALS
• Noble gases, or neutral molecules, such as in
sugar, C12H22O11, iodine, I2, and naphthalene,
C10H8.
• mix of hydrogen bonding/ dipole-dipole and
dispersion forces
• most molecular crystals have relatively low
melting points.
Molecular Crystal Properties:
 4. COVALENT NETWORK CRYSTALS
• each atom is covalently bonded to its nearest
neighbors = covalent bonds
• The solid can be made of one type of atom
(e.g. C diamond and C graphite) or can be
made of different atoms (e.g. SiO2 and BN)
Covalent Network Crystal Properties:
• Generally, these solids are insoluble in water
due to the difficulty of solvating very large
molecules. Diamond is the hardest material
known, while cubic boron nitride (BN) is the
second-hardest. Silicon carbide (SiC) is very
structurally complex and has at least 70
crystalline forms.
 ACTIVITY
Reading Commentary on Crystal Formation. Read about a crystal
of your choice and write a three – five paragraph essay by
answering the following questions.
1. How is the crystal formed?
2. Is it beneficial or harmful to man or both? Discuss how it is
beneficial or harmful to man.
3. If it is something harmful, what can be done to avoid its
formation? If it is something beneficial, how can its formation be
promoted?