Intermolecular Forces

Important Terms
Intermolecular Forces
Intramolecular Forces
Ion-ion Interaction
Van der Waals Forces
Hydrogen Bond
Dispersion forces/London Forces
Induced Dipole
Surface Tension
Adhesion
Cohesion
Concave Meniscus
Convex Meniscus
Viscosity
Boiling Point
Melting Point
Joule
Mole

Intramolecular forces hold atoms together in a molecule.

Intramolecular forces stabilize individual molecules, whereas

intermolecular forces are primarily responsible for the bulk properties of
matter.
Intermolecular forces are much weaker than intramolecular forces.
It usually requires much less energy to evaporate a liquid than to break
the bonds in the molecules of the liquid.
Intermolecular forces are attractive forces between molecules.
Intermolecular forces are responsible for the non-ideal behavior of gases
and even more influence in the condensed phases of matter—liquids and
solids.

Types of Intermolecular Forces

● Dispersion forces also known as London forces in honor of Fritz
London.
● Dipole-dipole forces
● Ion-Dipole forces
● Hydrogen bond

Dispersion Forces/London Forces

Spherical charge distribution in a helium atom.

Distortion caused by the approach of a cation. (ion-induced dipole)
Distortion caused by the approach of a dipole. (dipole-induced dipole)

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 an instantaneous dipole.
Dispersion force is present in all molecules. It is the only force present in
nonpolar molecules.
Dispersion forces are attractive forces that arise as a result of
temporary dipoles induced in atoms or molecules.

Induced dipole occurs when the separation of positive and negative

charges in the atom (or nonpolar molecule) is due to the proximity of an
ion or a polar molecule.

As the molar mass or atomic size increases, dispersion forces also

increases.
London forces are temporary attraction forces. The
London dispersion force is the weakest intermolecular force.

Dipole-dipole forces are attractive forces between polar molecules, that

is, between molecules that possess dipole moments.

The partially positive end of the molecule is attracted to the partially

negative side of another molecule.
A more polar substance will have stronger dipole–dipole forces compared
to a less polar one.

Ion-Dipole Forces

An ion-dipole intermolecular force of attraction results from an interaction

between an ion and a polar molecule.
When an ionic compound is placed in a solution of water, the positive end
of the ionic compound becomes surrounded with the partial negative
oxygen of water.

Hydrogen bond is a special type of dipole-dipole interaction between the

hydrogen atom in a polar bond, such as N− H, O− H or F− H and an electronegative O, N, or
F atom.

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.

Hydrogen bonding is responsible for the unusually high boiling point and
melting point of water as compared to compounds of similar molecular
weight and geometry
van der Waals Forces
Dipole-dipole interaction
Dispersion forces also known as London forces in honor of Fritz London.
Hydrogen bond
The forces are named for the Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der
Waals, who in 1873 first postulated these intermolecular forces in
developing a theory to account for the properties of real gases.

Properties of Substances in Relation to Intermolecular Forces

Surface tension is the measure of the elastic force in the surface of a

liquid. It is the amount of energy required to stretch or increase the
surface of a liquid by a unit area.
Surface tension is a phenomenon caused by cohesive forces
(intermolecular forces) between molecules allowing liquids to create a thin
film on its surface.
This causes liquids to acquire a certain shape when put on a container or
dropped on surfaces.

Capillary action is the tendency of a liquid to rise in narrow tubes or be

drawn into small openings such as those between grains of a rock.

Capillary action, also known as capillarity, is a result of intermolecular

attraction between the liquid and solid materials.

Two types of forces are involved in capillary action

Cohesion is the intermolecular attraction between like molecules (the

liquid molecules).

Adhesion is an attraction between unlike molecules (such as those in

water and in the particles that make up the glass tube).

Cohesion causes water to form drops, surface tension causes them to be

nearly spherical, and adhesion keeps the drops in place.
Formation of meniscus
The curved surface of a liquid inside a container is the meniscus.
Concave meniscus and convex meniscus

Concave Meniscus
When the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules are lesser than
the adhesive forces between the liquid and the walls of the container, the
surface of the liquid is concave.

Convex Meniscus

When the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules are greater than
the adhesive forces between the liquid and the walls of the container, the
surface of the liquid is convex.

Viscosity is the resistance of a liquid to flow. The more viscous a liquid is

the thicker its consistency.
In layman’s term it is the measure of the thickness of a liquid.
In general, stronger intermolecular forces leads to higher viscosity.

Vaporization is a transitional phase of an element or compound from a

solid phase or liquid phase to a gas phase.
It can also refer to the physical destruction of an object due to intense
heat.

It is the process of applying heat to change something from a solid or

liquid to a gas.

It changes matter from one state or phase into another without changing
its chemical composition.
Three Types of Vaporization
Boiling, is the transition from liquid phase to gas phase takes place at or
above the boiling temperature, and it occurs below the surface.
Sublimation, is the transition from solid phase to gas phase takes place
without passing through a liquid phase.
Evaporation is the transition from liquid to gas phase takes place below
the boiling temperature at a given pressure, and it occurs on the surface.