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ACTIVITY 1 IMFA – WHAT TYPE?

Objective: Identify the types of intermolecular forces of attraction.

Directions: Identify the type of IMFA for the following substances and answer the
questions that follow.
Table 1 – Substances and IMFA Types
Substance Type of IMFA

1. CO Dipole-Dipole

2. NH3 Hydrogen Bonding

3. CCl4 London Dispersion Forces

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. How do you determine the type of IMFA that occurs in each of the given
substances?

For the first one, carbon monoxide exhibits polar molecules and is also based
on its structure that has an uneven number of distribution of electrons henceforth
it is a dipole-dipole IMFA. While for NH3 it has the existence of hydrogen
bonding to a molecule of nitrogen which makes it highly likable hydrogen
bonding. The last one is CCl4,which has only the type of London Dispersion
Forces.

2. Rank the strength of each compound based on IMFA. (1 = strongest, 2 = in

between, 3 = weakest)
CO – 2, NH3 - 1, CCl4 – 3

Explain your answer: Ranking as the strongest force is NH3 because it is a

hydrogen bond which is the strongest force among the three types included in
the group. Next ranked number 2 is carbon monoxide which has the
dipole-dipole IMFA since it has polar molecules and an uneven number of
electrons. And lastly CCl4, it is ranked as the weakest since London Dispersion
Forces are the weakest among the three since it can be easily broken.
ACTIVITY 2

IMFA – INCREASE OR DECREASE?

Objective: Determine the increase or decrease in the intermolecular forces of attraction that takes
place in phase change.

Directions: For each of the phase changes below, choose whether the intermolecular forces
increased or decreased. Write a checkmark (/) under the column for your answer. Then, answer the
critical thinking questions.

Table 2 – Phase Changes and Increase or decrease in IMFA

Phase Changes Intermolecular Forces

Initial State Final State Increase Decrease

solid liquid /

1 liquid solid /

2 liquid gas /

3 gas liquid /

4 solid gas /

5 gas solid /

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Which of the phases of matter (solid, liquid, gas) has the strongest and weakest IMFA?
The one with the strongest IMFA is solid because it has less kinetic energy. This
makes the solid particles have lesser area to move making them get closer. The one with the
weakest IMFA is gas since the kinetic energy of the gas molecule is greater than the
attractive force. By this way the particles move freely of each other and make them further
apart from each other. There is also a possibility that the particles may not meet hence no
attractive force in the gas particles.
2. What do you think is the reason for the varying strengths of IMFA between the phases of
matter?
One of the reasons where there are varying strengths of IMFA between the phases of matter is
that the process of heating and cooling can change the kinetic energy of the particles. The
temperature of each substance may affect its pressure. By this way, increasing the pressure on a
substance forces the molecules to move closer together.
 What’s More

IMFA – EFFECTS ON PROPERTIES

Objective: Determine the effects of intermolecular forces of attraction on the properties of
substances.

ACTIVITY 1 – Boiling and Melting Point

Directions: The boiling and melting points of HCl and O2 are shown below. Determine the type of
intermolecular force of attraction exhibited by the molecules.

Molecule Boiling Melting Type of IMFA

Point Point

1. HF 20ºC -83 ºC Hydrogen Bonding

2. O2 -182ºC -218 ºC London Dispersion Forces

Table 3– Melting & Boiling Point and IMFA Types

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What can you infer from the table above?
The different types of IMFA can have a variation with their boiling point and melting point. Since
Hydrogen bonding (HF) is the strongest among the IMFA types, it is more specific that these
types would have higher boiling points and melting points compared to London dispersion (O2)
forces that have lower due to its unstable nature.

2. How do you relate the melting and boiling point of a substance to its IMFA?
Explain their relationship.
The higher the boiling point and melting point, the stronger the IMFA of the substances. The lower the
vapor pressure of a substance makes it more eligible to acquire higher boiling points. It also makes sense on the
IMFA type that the hydrogen bond would be strongest since its molecules are more stable unlike London
dispersion forces that are unstable.

ACTIVITY 2 – Viscosity
Directions: Follow the procedures below and answer the critical thinking questions.
Materials: water, dishwashing liquid, mug/cup
Procedures:
1. Pour water and dishwashing liquid into the mug/cup.
2. Observe the flow of the substances upon pouring.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What did you observe?
What was observed in the experiment is that the dishwashing liquid flows slower than the water that
instantly drips down once flipped. This makes the dishwashing liquid more viscous than the water. It also
can be acknowledged by just the observation of the substances, one can tell whether it is has strong IMFA or
weaker IMFA.

2. What can you conclude about the link between the strength of the IMFA and the viscosity of a
substance?

The viscosity of a substance is a vital indication on how strong the IMFA type of a substance is.
Substances (liquids to be specific) with higher resistance to flow have molecules that make their
molecules closer together have higher intermolecular forces. Unlike liquids or substances that flow
instantly have lower IMFA.
ACTIVITY 3 – Capillarity
Directions: Follow the procedures below and answer the critical thinking questions.
Materials:
water from the faucet, cooking oil, alcohol, large shallow container, narrow glass tube or
clear plastic straw, ruler
Procedures:
1. Place about 20 ml (about 4 teaspoonfuls) of water in the shallow container.
2. Hold the narrow tube above the extent of the water within the container.
3. Observe how far the water travels in the tube.
4. Measure the distance traveled by the liquid using a ruler.
5. Repeat steps no. 1-4 for the remaining two substances, remember to wash and dry the dish and
the tube/straw well.

Results:
Record your output in the table below. You do not need to measure the exact distance traveled
by the substance. Describe whether it traveled a short /far distance.

Table 4– Substances and Distance Travelled

Distance traveled in
Substance
the tube

3 cm
water from the
faucet

5 cm
cooking oil
1 cm
alcohol

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Which of the substances traveled farther up the tube?

The substance that traveled further is the oil because it has lower contact angles. This is due to the
oil’s lower surface tension and making it denser than water. This effect causes the substance to rise
higher in the clear straw than the water and the alcohol.
2. What can you conclude about the link between the strength of the IMFA and capillarity?

The reason there is variation of strengths towards the capillarity actions to different substances is the
temperature of the vapor pressure of the substances (liquids). Stronger IMFA indicates that these
substances acquire more energy to change their IMF and enter the gas phase. The rate of evaporation
will decrease henceforth also the vapor pressure. Compared to weaker IMFA that will apprehend the
increase towards the substance's vapor pressure.
ACTIVITY 4 – Evaporation

Directions: Follow the procedures below and answer the critical thinking questions.
Materials: water and nail polish remover (acetone), shallow bowls, teaspoon (the one being used for
coffee or tea)
Procedures:
1. Measure 20 ml of the given substances by using a teaspoon. Each teaspoon is roughly estimated
with 5mL capacity.
2. Place 20 ml of each of the substances in separate bowls.
3. Move carefully each bowl to a warm/sunny spot.
4. Mark the quantity of liquid in each bowl using a permanent marker.
5. Make several marks at different positions around the bowl.
6. Observe each bowl every minute and note which liquid evaporates quickly.

Results
Record your measurements in the table below. You do not need to measure the specific
level of the liquid. Just write what extent or proportion the liquid evaporates.
Table 5– Substances and Level of Liquid

Level of liquid in different time intervals

Substance
5 min 10 min 15 min 20 min 25 min
still full still full still full
almost ¾ almost ¾
Water of the of the
bowl bowl
¾ of the half of almost ¼ empty empty
Nail polish remover bowl the bowl of the
bowl

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Which of the two substances takes the longest time to evaporate?

Water takes a longer time to evaporate than nail polish remover. Since the nail polish
remover is mostly likely acetone and it has weaker intermolecular force that the water. It
can be also seen that water has a higher boiling point than acetone (almost half) that
makes the intermolecular forces greater and the rate of evaporation greater.
2. What can you conclude about the link between the strength of the IMFA and
evaporation?

The conclusion between the strength of the IMFA and evaporation is that the boiling
point is a big factor in determining the strength of the IMFA of the substance. The
higher the boiling point the higher its rate of evaporation which makes the IMFA of the
substance stronger. Compared to weaker types (especially London dispersion forces)
have lower boiling points and lower evaporation rate (in the case of acetone which is
gone immediately).