Intermolecular 2

• Grade 11 Chemistry
Intermolecular • 04/ 05/ 2023

• Compiled by: Dr M Sihlahla
forces
• Intermolecular forces determine bulk properties, such as
the melting points of solids and the boiling points of
liquids.
• Liquids boil when the molecules have enough thermal
energy to overcome the intermolecular attractive forces
that hold them together, thereby forming bubbles of vapor
within the liquid.
• Similarly, solids melt when the molecules acquire
enough thermal energy to overcome the intermolecular
forces that lock them into place in the solid.
• Intermolecular forces are electrostatic in nature; that is,
they arise from the interaction between positively and
negatively charged species.
• Like covalent and ionic bonds, intermolecular interactions
are the sum of both attractive and repulsive components.
• The polarizability of a substance also determines how it
interacts with ions and species that possess permanent dipoles.
• Polarizability usually refers to the tendency of matter, when
subjected to an electric field, to acquire an electric dipole
moment in proportion to that applied field
• Thus, London dispersion forces are responsible for the general
trend toward higher boiling points with increased molecular
mass and greater surface area in a homologous series of
compounds, such as the alkanes (part (a) in Figure 11.2.4).
• The strengths of London dispersion forces also depend
significantly on molecular shape because shape determines how
much of one molecule can interact with its neighboring
molecules at any given time.
• For example, part (b) in Figure 11.2.4 shows 2,2-
dimethylpropane (neopentane) and n-pentane, both of which
have the empirical formula C5H12.
• Neopentane is almost spherical, with a small surface area for
intermolecular interactions, whereas n-pentane has an
extended conformation that enables it to come into close
contact with other n-pentane molecules.
• As a result, the boiling point of neopentane (9.5°C) is more
than 25°C lower than the boiling point of n-pentane (36.1°C).
CLASS EXERCISE
1. Determine what type of intermolecular forces exist in the following molecules: LiF, MgF2, H2O, and HF.
o H2O: London Force, Dipole-Dipole interaction, Hydrogen bonds.

o HF: Dipole-Dipole intermolecular forces, Hydrogen bonds.
o MgF2 and LiF: strong ionic attraction.
2. How does the intermolecular determine the boiling point?
The weakest intermolecular, the lowest boiling point.
3. Which has the highest boiling point I2, Br2, and Cl2. Explain why?
The atomic weigh of Iodine = 127, Bromine = 80, and Chlorine = 35.5. The weigh is proportion to the London
dispersion force, and the higher molecular weigh, the larger the force. Thus, I2 has a highest boiling point.
4.Methanol (CH3OH) is found in methylated spirits and can be used as a fuel. Methanol is found as a liquid at room
temperature. The methanol molecule is not much larger than the methane molecule, CH4. However, methane is a gas
at room temperature. Explain why this is so.
Methanol is polar and will experience dipole-dipole intermolecular forces. CH4 is non-polar and will experience weak
London forces between the molecules. Dipole-dipole forces are stronger than London forces. As a result more
energy is required to break apart the molecules of methanol. Therefore methanol has a higher boiling point than
methane.
5. Which of the following compounds will only experience London forces between their molecules? H2O; Cl2, Ar; PH3; BF3;
HCl; CH4
Cl2, Ar, CH4
6. Why does sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolves easily in water but hardly at all in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)?
NaCl dissolves in water because NaCl is ionic and dissociates into ‘polar’ Na+ and Cl- ions when dissolved in water.
Water is polar and so NaCl will dissolve because of ion-dipole forces. However, CCl4 is non-polar, so NaCl cannot
dissolve in it.
7. Which of the following pairs of substances:

HCl and CO; NaCl and CCl4; KBr and H2S; CCl4 and Br2
1. Interact with one another via ion-dipole forces?

2. Interact with one another via dipole-dipole forces?
3. Interact with one another via ion-induced dipole forces?
4. Interact with one another via induced dipole-induced dipole forces?
5. KBr and H2S

6. HCl and CO
7. NaCl and CCl4
8. CCl4 and Br2
8. If you had a sample of solid bromine (Br2(s)) and you dropped it into some liquid bromine (Br2(l)), would it float or
sink? Explain.
It would sink. Molecules in a solid are packed closer together than in a liquid and are therefore more dense, so will sink
when placed in the liquid.
9. Which substance will have the higher boiling point, NO or Ne? Explain.
NO, because NO molecules are polar whilst atoms of Ne are non-polar. Therefore intermolecular forces are stronger
in NO than in Ne. Molecules of NO are more difficult to break apart, therefore boiling point will be higher.
10. Which substance would you expect to have a higher boiling point out of N2 and Br2? Explain.
Br2. molecules are larger, therefore stronger intermolecular forces, therefore higher boiling point.
Summar
y
• Intermolecular forces are electrostatic in nature and include van • London dispersion forces are due to the formation
der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds. of instantaneous dipole moments in polar or nonpolar molecules
as a result of short-lived fluctuations of electron charge
• Molecules in liquids are held to other molecules by distribution, which in turn cause the temporary formation of an
intermolecular interactions, which are weaker than the induced dipole in adjacent molecules
intramolecular interactions that hold the atoms together
within molecules and polyatomic ions. • Larger atoms tend to be more polarizable than smaller
ones, because their outer electrons are less tightly bound and
• Transitions between the solid and liquid, or the liquid and gas are therefore more easily perturbed.
phases, are due to changes in intermolecular interactions, but
do not affect intramolecular interactions. • Hydrogen bonds are especially strong dipole–dipole
interactions between molecules that have hydrogen bonded to a
• The three major types of intermolecular interactions are highly electronegative atom, such as O, N, or F.
dipole– dipole interactions, London dispersion forces (these
two are often referred to collectively as van der Waals forces), • The resulting partially positively charged H atom on one
and hydrogen bonds. molecule (the hydrogen bond donor) can interact strongly with
a lone pair of electrons of a partially negatively charged O, N, or
• Dipole–dipole interactions arise from the electrostatic F atom on adjacent molecules (the hydrogen bond acceptor).
interactions of the positive and negative ends of molecules with
permanent dipole moments; their strength is proportional to the • Because of strong O⋅⋅⋅H hydrogen bonding between water
magnitude of the dipole moment and the distance between molecules, water has an unusually high boiling point, and ice
dipoles. has an open, cage-like structure that is less dense than liquid
water.

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• Grade 11 Chemistry

Intermolecular • 04/ 05/ 2023

o H2O: London Force, Dipole-Dipole interaction, Hydrogen bonds.

2. How does the intermolecular determine the boiling point?

The weakest intermolecular, the lowest boiling point.

Cl2, Ar, CH4

7. Which of the following pairs of substances:

1. Interact with one another via ion-dipole forces?

5. KBr and H2S

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