SHS- Physical Science (Intermolecular Forces)

I. Introductory Concept
Have you ever wondered if atoms and molecules have telepathic
system to create such wonderful phases of matter? Have you ever thought
how they create such variety of things that make a wonderful world? In
today’s lesson you should have a grasp of understanding on the things that I
asked you to ponder on.

Interaction has always been a part of our daily lives. We connect to

other things (biotic or abiotic) in order to survive. This law of nature is also
applicable to the tiniest compositions of each and every thing that you can see
around you.

II. Learning Competencies

At the end of the module, you should be able to:
 Describe the different types of intermolecular forces;
 Determine the type of intermolecular forces that exist in a sample
substance;
 Relate the intermolecular forces to the properties of substances.

III. Activities
VOCABULARY ENHANCEMENT
Directions: Give the exact word of the jumbled letters to form a new word
based on their given description.

1. A S T M O
 the basic building blocks of ordinary matter
ANSWER: __________________________________

2. A N T R I
 a prefix meaning ―within‖ or ―inside‖. Usually used in
scientific terminologies to depict connection in a group.
ANSWER: __________________________________

3. L O C M E L E S U
 an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held
together by chemical bonds
ANSWER: __________________________________

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 4. D C O O U M N P
 made up or consisting of two or more existing parts or
elements.
ANSWER: __________________________________

5. I T E R N
 a prefix meaning ―between‖ or ―among‖. Usually used in
scientific terminologies to depict connection between two or
more groups.
ANSWER: __________________________________
REMEMBER!
Take note that intramolecular and intermolecular forces are very different from each
other. Intramolecular forces attraction are forces within molecules or the forces
holding a molecule together. Molecules are composed of different atoms and these
atoms are combined together by intramolecular forces such as covalent bond and
iconic bond. In this lesson, we will focus on the INTERMOLECULAR FORCES
ATTRACTION between molecules.

TRY THIS!

Directions: Given the image that represents a type of interaction between molecules
of a compound, observe carefully and answer the guide questions provided below.

IV. Rubrics for Scoring (as applicable)

V. Answer Key

Image from
VI. Reflection http://www.visionlearning.com/es
/library/Qu%C3%ADmica/1/Proper
ties-of-Liquids/222
(Retrieved June 29,2020)

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GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. What do you think this illustration represents?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.

2. What do you think will happen when molecules with the same charges (+ & +)
(- & -) interact?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.
3. What do you think will happen when molecules with opposite charges(+ & -)
interact?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.
4. Please specify which scheme of interaction is being referred to?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.

KEEP THIS IN MIND

Intermolecular forces are the attractive forces present between molecules.

Generally, they are called van der Waals forces, named after the Dutch scientist
Johannes van der Waals.

The different types of intermolecular forces of attraction (IMFA) are:

 London dispersion forces (LDF)

 Dipole-dipole forces
 Hydrogen bonding
London dispersion forces

Dispersion force is present in all molecules. It is the only force present in

nonpolar molecules. It is very weak and acts in very small distances. It is formed due
to the attraction between the positively charged nucleus of an atom with the
negatively charged electron cloud of a nearby atom. This interaction creates an
induced dipole.

EXAMPLE

In a nonpolar molecule, such as O2, there are no positive or negative ends.

However, the electrons of this molecule are constantly moving. There are times
when electrons move to one end,
making such end partially negative
while the other end becomes partially
positive. Hence, the molecule can have

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an instantaneous dipole.

The temporary dipole of a molecule induces instantaneous dipoles on

neighboring molecules.

TIP

In assessing the relative strengths of London dispersion forces between two

different substances, compare their molecular weight and size. Larger and more
massive molecules are more polarizable (i.e. they have a greater tendency to have
distorted electron clouds) and have stronger IMFA.

Dipole-dipole forces

Occurs between polar molecules. This is due to the partial positive pole and
the partial negative pole of the molecule. Average dipole-dipole interaction is
relatively weak, around 4kJ/ mol. This interaction is effective over a very short range.

EXAMPLE

HCl is a polar molecule. It has partially

positive and partially negative ends.

The partially positive end of the molecule

is attracted to the partially negative side of
another molecule.

TIP

In assessing the relative strengths of

dipole-dipole forces between two different
substances, compare their polarities. A more
polar substance will have stronger dipole–dipole
forces compared to a less polar one.

Hydrogen Bond

Hydrogen bond is a very strong dipole-dipole interaction. Hydrogen bond

occurs in polar molecules containing H and any one of the highly electronegative

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elements, in particular F, O, N. Hydrogen tends to be strongly positive due to the
strong tendencies of F, O, or N to attract the electron towards it. The highly
electronegative elements make hydrogen strongly positive.

EXAMPLE

Consider the water molecule, H2O.

The hydrogen of one molecule is

attracted to the oxygen atom of another
molecule

APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Directions: Identify the types of intermolecular forces present between molecules

of the following substances:

1. NH3——NH3
2. H2——H2
3. CO2——CO2
4. HF——HF
5. H2O——H2O

ADD UP CONCEPTS

The properties of molecules depend on the type and strength of their

intermolecular forces of attraction.

Properties Dependent on IMFA

Phase at room temperature

When molecules have strong intermolecular forces of attraction, they are

packed close together. They often exist as condensed phase (solid or liquid) at room

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temperature. When molecules have weak intermolecular forces of attraction, they
are far apart from each other. They often exist as gas at room temperature.

Solubility

Solubility refers to the ability of a substance to dissolve in a given amount of

solvent at a specified temperature. Recall the rule ―like dissolves like.‖ When the
solute and the solvent both exhibit the same intermolecular forces of attraction, they
form a solution.

EXAMPLE

Water and ethanol are polar substances. They both exhibit LDF, dipole -
dipole forces, and hydrogen bonding. When mixed together, they form a solution.

On the other hand, hexane and water do not have similar intermolecular
forces of attraction. The only attractive forces present in hexane are the relatively
weak London dispersion forces. These forces cannot significantly disrupt the strong
hydrogen bonding among water molecules. Therefore, hexane and water form a
heterogeneous mixture.

Melting point
Melting point is the temperature at which the substance changes from solid to
liquid. Stronger intermolecular forces mean greater amount of energy is needed to

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break the attractive forces between molecules. Substances with stronger IMFA have
higher melting points compared to those with weaker IMFA.

Boiling point
Boiling point is the temperature at which the substance changes from liquid to
gas. Similar to melting point, stronger intermolecular forces means greater amount of
energy is needed to break the attractive forces between molecules. Substances with
stronger IMFA have higher boiling points compared to those with weaker IMFA.

Surface Tension
Surface Tension is the tendency of a fluid to acquire the least possible surface
area. Molecules with stronger intermolecular forces will exert greater cohesive forces
and acquire less surface area (higher surface tension) than those with weaker IMFA.

Viscosity
Viscosity is the measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. Molecules
with stronger intermolecular forces have greater resistance to flow, and thus, higher
viscosity compared to those with weaker IMFA.

Vapor Pressure
Vapor Pressure is the pressure exerted by a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid
phase in a closed system. Molecules with stronger intermolecular forces have less
tendency to escape as gas, and thus lower vapor pressure compared to those with
weaker IMFA.

Strengths of Intermolecular Forces

When comparing the strengths of intermolecular forces, check the difference

in molecular weight. If the difference is too large (>1000), then generally, the
molecule with greater molecular weight has stronger intermolecular forces.
Otherwise, you may use the following strategy: 1. Check which molecule exhibits
hydrogen bonding. This molecule will have stronger intermolecular forces.
2. Check which molecule is polar. Polar molecules have stronger intermolecular
forces.
3. Compare London dispersion forces. More massive molecules have stronger
intermolecular forces.

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 EXAMPLES

Example 1
Which has higher boiling point, H2O or H2S?
Answer:
H2O exhibits hydrogen bonding. It has stronger intermolecular forces.
Therefore, it has higher boiling point than H2S.
Example 2
Which is most likely solid, F2 or I2?
Answer:
Both fluorine and iodine are nonpolar molecules. They exhibit London
dispersion forces only. Because iodine has higher molecular mass, it has stronger
London dispersion forces. It is most likely to be solid. (Indeed, I2 is solid while F2 is
gas at room temperature.

APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED 2

Directions: Compare the intramolecular forces of attraction present in the following

compounds and answer the questions.
1. Which has higher boiling point, HBr or HF?

2. Which is most likely gas at room temperature, CH4 or CH3Cl?

Directions: Identify what type of property Dependent on IMFA is being described in

the statement below.

3.This is the ability of a substance to dissolve in a given amount of solvent at

a specified temperature.

4. This is the tendency of a fluid to acquire the least possible surface area.

5. This is the measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow.

IV. Answer Key

VOCABULARY ENHANCEMENT

1. ATOMS
2. INTRA
3. MOLECULES

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 4. COMPOUND
5. INTER
TRY THIS!

1. The red and blue colors represents two different charges at both ends making it
polar molecules. The red represents a positive end while the blue ones represent a
negative end.
2. When the same colors like blue and blue / red and red interacts with each other
there are gray lines that represents repulsion. Following the rule that like repels like
in magnetism just the same with these molecular ends they tend to repel each other.

3. When different colors interact with each other (blue and red) there is a presence of
green arrow and these represents attraction. In short, the different colored ends tend
to attract each other.

4. There are two types of molecules the polar and the nonpolar. Polar molecules
have these positive and negative ends and most likely to experience this type of
event while the nonpolar molecules have instantaneous dipoles meaning it is not
permanent. It can happen but very weak and for a short period of time only.
APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

1. dipole-dipole, H-bonding
2. dispersion forces
3. dispersion forces
4. dipole-dipole, H-bonding
5. dipole-dipole, H-bonding
APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED 2
1. The intermolecular attraction between HBr molecules is Dipole-Dipole Interaction
while between HF molecules is Hydrogen Bond, therefore, HF has higher boiling
point than HBr because Hydrogen Bond is stronger than ordinary Dipole-Dipole
Interaction.
2. Both CH4 and CH3Cl molecules are bonded by Dispersion Forces but because
CH4 has lower molecular mass so most likely it is gas at room temperature.
3. Solubility
4. Surface tension
5. Viscosity

V. Reflection

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VI. References
Physical Science Teaching Guide

(1) Whitten, K. W., Davis, R. E., Peck, M. L., & Stanley, G. G., (2005).
General Chemistry 7th ed. Singapore: Thomson/ Brooks/ Cole.;

(2) Atkins, P. W. Chemical Bonding. (2016). In Encyclopedia Britannica.

Retrieved February 20, 2016 from http://
www.britannica.com/science/chemical-bonding/Intermolecularforces

(3) Berstein, R., Carpi, A., (2015). Properties of Liquids In Visionlearning.

Retrieved February 20, 2016 from http://
www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1//222/reading
(4) https://link.quipper.com

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