Intermolecular Forces

There are 3 main types of Intermolecular forces

1. London Forces
2. Permanent Dipole-Dipole Forces
3. Hydrogen Bonding

Instantaneous Dipole - Induced Dipole forces / London

Forces
- Exists between all atoms and molecules
- The only intermolecular force in non-polar molecules and noble gasses
- They are caused by:
o The random motion of electrons causes more electrons to be on one
side of an atom or molecule
▪ Electron Charge clouds are constantly moving.
▪ At any moment, the electron distribution within the
molecule/atom becomes asymmetrical causing the
molecule/atom to have an instantaneous dipole.
▪ A molecule/atom with an instantaneous dipole will induce a
dipole (induced dipole) in it’s neighbouring molecules/atoms
The strength of LF depends on:
i. Number of electrons in the molecule

When the molecule gets bigger there are greater number of electrons [electron
cloud can get easily distorted, larger instantaneous and induced dipoles are created]
leading to strong LF between molecules hence causing a larger boiling point

Noble Gas Boiling Point /oC Number of Electrons

He -269 2
Ne -246 10 ➢ Electrons increases
➢ LF Increases
Ar -186 18
➢ BP increases
Kr -153 36
Xe -108 54
Why does the strength of LF increase as the number of electrons increase?

- The more weakly the outermost electrons are held by the nucleus the easier
the formation of a instantaneous dipole
ii. Shape of molecule

Name of Molecule 2,2 – dimethylpropane n-pentane

Molecular mass 72 72

Structure

Shape Branched Unbranched

Surface Area Smaller SA Larger SA of exposure
Points of contact with
Less More
other molecules
Strength of LF Weaker Stronger
Boiling Point (0C) 10 36

- The _______________ the surface area of the molecule, the __________ contact
between the molecules, the _______________ the London forces between the
molecules, hence the ______________- the boiling point of the molecule

 Branching =  Boiling point

Branching is inversely proportional to the
boiling point
Permanent Dipole – Dipole Forces
- Exists between polar molecules only
- Molecules with permanent dipole can attract neighbouring molecules as the
positive end [δ+] of one molecule attracts the negative end [δ-] of another
molecule

- In comparing the relative strengths of intermolecular forces, the following

generalizations are important
o When comparing molecules with a large difference in their RMM, LF
become more significant than permanent dipole-dipole forces .Hence
molecules with the largest RMM have the strongest attraction
o When the molecules that are being compared have similar RMM and
shapes, Permanent dipole-dipole forces become more significant. Thus
the more polar molecule has the strongest attraction