Intermolecular Forces

 A dipole-dipole force is when the positive side of a polar molecule attracts the
negative side of another polar molecule. A dipole is a molecule that has both
positive and negative regions. In a hydrogen bond containing molecules,
hydrogen bonds are a specialized type of dipole-dipole force, in which the
partially positively charged hydrogen atom in a molecule is attracted to a
partially negatively charged nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine atom of an adjacent
molecule because opposite charges attract. Hydrogen bonds are stronger than
dipole-dipole forces.

An example of a hydrogen bond is NH3(ammonia) interacting with other NH3

molecules. The partially positively charged hydrogen atom in one molecule is
attracted to a partially negatively charged nitrogen atom in another molecule
of NH3. The electrostatic forces of attraction between these molecules hold
them together tightly. This causes the boiling point (−33.34 °C) and melting
point (−77.73 °C) of NH3 to be relatively higher than other gases (like H2, O2,
N2).

When a combination reaction between NH3 and HCl takes place the newly
formed compound stays together using hydrogen bonds. The partially
positively charged hydrogen atom in HCl is attracted to a partially negatively
charged nitrogen atom in NH3. Then the ammonium molecule and the chloride
ion react together to form NH4Cl. So, the reaction looks like:
The hydrogen bonds between NH3 molecules enable it to dissolve in the H2O.
The partially positively charged hydrogen atom in H2O is attracted to a partially
negatively charged nitrogen atom in NH3. This makes ammonia highly soluble
in water.

When NH3 combusts, it reacts with O2 to form N2 and H2O. The hydrogen bonds
in H2O are much more stable and contain less energy compared to the
hydrogen bonds in NH3. Hence, when NH3 reacts with O2 (combustion) a lot of
heat is released (exothermic reaction), to rearrange the atoms and form N2 and
H2O as a stable product.
4NH3 + 3O2  2N2 + 6H2O + ΔH°r = −1267.20 kJ
The ion-dipole interaction is another type of intermolecular force which is
stronger than dipole-dipole forces and hydrogen bonds as well. Cations, having
an overall positive charge, are attracted to the partially negatively charged side
of a dipole. Anions, having an overall negative charge, are attracted to the
partially positively charged side of the dipole. An ion-ion interaction is stronger
than all the other mentioned types of intermolecular forces. In this reaction,
cation from one compound is attracted to the anion from another compound,
and vice-versa. This happens because opposite charges attract.
An example of an ion-ion interaction is a NaCl (sodium chloride) molecule
interacting with other NaCl molecules. The positively charged Na (cation), from
one molecule, is attracted to the negatively charged Cl (anion) from another
molecule. These electrostatic forces of attraction hold the multiple NaCl
molecules together to form a giant ionic crystal lattice. A lot of energy is
required to break these electrostatic forces of attraction, giving NaCl its high
melting point (801 °C) and boiling point (1,465 °C).

An example of an ion-dipole interaction is NaCl (ionic compound) interacting

with H2SO4(dipole). When H2SO4 is an excess reactant, the complete redox
reaction between NaCl and H2SO4 gives HCl and Na2SO4. In H2SO4, H+ ions are
ready to donate. Hence, when NaCl is mixed with excess H2SO4 it forms a
stronger bond between Na+ and SO42- making Na2SO4 a stable salt & HCL as a
by-product.
The interaction between NaCl and H2O is an ion-dipole interaction. NaCl
dissolves in water and dissociates to form Na+ and Cl-. The Cl anion from NaCl is
attracted to the partially positively charged H in H2O. The Na cation from NaCl
is attracted to the partially negatively charged OH from H2O. This allows
sodium chloride to easily dissolve in water.
NaCl + H2O  Na+ + Cl- + H+ + OH-

NaCl as a solid and H2O independently cannot conduct electricity because both
compounds have no free ions to carry charges. However, when NaCl
dissociates in H2O, the saline solution becomes a very good conductor of
electricity, because they now have free ions to carry charges, due to the ion-
dipole interactions. As the concentration of NaCl in the solution increases, its
electrical conductivity also increases.