Recap of previous knowledge:

- Briefly describe the origin of VDWs forces

- Compare the boiling points of bromine (Br2) and iodine monochloride (ICl)
- State the conditions necessary for hydrogen bond formation
- Arrange the following bonds in order of increasing bond polarity
- Arrange intermolecular forces in order of increasing strength
Effects of hydrogen bonds on physical properties
Sugar

Sand

candle wax

Iodine

(a) Boiling point.

-

The variation in boiling points of hydrides of groups IV, V, VI and VII elements is shown below.
The graph also serves as an evidence for the existence of hydrogen bonds.
Key features of the graph are:
- Boiling points of NH3, HF and H2O are abnormally high due to the
presence of hydrogen bonds between their molecules. Hydrogen
bonds are the strongest intermolecular force.
- The graph then falls dramatically to the hydrides of period 3
elements for groups V, VI and VII due to the presence of dipoledipole forces in period 3 hydrides which are weaker forces than
hydrogen bonds.
- The graph then shows a gradual rise from the hydrides of period 3 to
period 5 due to increase in van der Waals (VDW) forces as electron
cloud increases per molecule.
- In group IV hydrides only VDW forces are present. Thus a
gradual rise from CH4 to SnH4 due to increase in van der Waals
forces as electron cloud increases.
- In each period, the hydride of a group IV element has a lower

boiling point because van der Waals forces present in all the
group IV hydrides are the weakest intermolecular forces
-

The abnormal high boiling points of HF, H2O and NH3 is an evidence for the existence of hydrogen bonds.

(b) Surface tension and viscosity.

-

The hydrogen bonds between water molecules reduce the ability of water molecules to slide over one another,
hence high viscosity for water.
The hydrogen bonds between water molecules exert a downward force at the surface of water, hence surface
tension.

(c) Density of ice.

-

Ice (solid) is less dense than water (liquid).

This is because hydrogen bonds hold water molecules apart in an
open lattice structure than expected for a solid.
Thus ice float on water.

Bonding and physical properties

-

Physical properties of substances depend on the structure of the substance based on bonding type.

(a) Ionic compounds.

-

They are all solids at room temperature and pressure with high melting points, boiling points and enthalpy
changes of vaporisation. This is because the ions are regularly arranged in the lattice such that opposite ions are
close to each other with very strong ionic bonds.
Much energy is needed to overcome strong the strong ionic bonds before the ionic compound can melt.
Most ionic compounds are soluble in water. This is because the ion-dipole attraction created when the ionic
compound is in water is stronger than the ionic bond in the compound.
Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in the solid state because of the absence of free mobile ions or
electrons. They however good conductors of electricity in the molten or aqueous form due to the presence of
free mobile ions.

(b) Covalent compounds.

-

Covalent compounds with simple molecular structures e.g. H2O, CO2, NH3 etc have low melting points, boiling
points and enthalpy changes of vaporisation. This is because less energy is needed to overcome the weak
intermolecular forces between their molecules.
Small molecular weight compounds with hydrogen bonds between their molecules dissolve easily in water
because they hydrogen bond with water molecules
Covalent compounds with giant molecular structures e.g. SiO2 etc have high melting points, boiling points and
enthalpy changes of vaporisation. This is because more energy is needed to overcome the strong covalent bonds
between their atoms in the lattice.
Some simple molecular structure covalent substances e.g. sugar, ethanol etc are soluble in water because they
form hydrogen bonds with water while others e.g. iodine, sulphur etc are insoluble. Some rather react with
water e.g. HCl, PCl3, PCl5 etc. This reaction is called hydrolysis.
Giant molecular structure covalent substances e.g. SiO 2 etc are insoluble in water,
Giant molecular structure covalent substances e.g. SiO 2 etc are non-conductor of electricity. This is because they
neither have free mobile ions nor delocalised electrons.
Covalent substances are solids, liquids or gases at room temperature.

(c) Metals.
-

Metals do not dissolve in water. Some metals e.g Na, K, Ca etc rather react with water.
Metals are all solids at room temperature except mercury.
Metals e.g. Al, Cu, Fe etc have high melting points, boiling points and enthalpy changes of vaporisation. This is
because the electrostatic attractive force between positive charge metal ions and delocalised electrons is
so strong that only high temperatures can overcome them.
Metals are good conductors of electricity because their delocalised electrons are free to move .

Metals conduct electricity because their delocalised electrons are free to move and also due to
vibrations passed from one metallic ion to the other.

NOTE: Like dissolves like is a common phrase in chemistry and means a polar substance e.g. HCl will easily
dissolve in a polar solvent e.g. water while a non-polar substance e.g. iodine will easily dissolve in a non-polar
solvent e.g. kerosene.