Lesson 6.

Properties of Molecules
Based on IMFA
Objective
At the end describe the properties of
1 molecules using IMFAs.
of the
lesson, you
should be
able to:
 Learn about It!

Physical States of Matter

• Matter can be classified into three states – solids, liquids
and gases.
• Matter will exist in a specific state based on two factors –
IMFA and temperature.
 Learn about It!

Physical States of Matter

• At room temperature, molecules with very strong
intermolecular forces of attraction exist in condensed
phases (solids or liquids).

• On the other hand, if the molecules have weak

intermolecular forces then they will exist as gases. For
example, moth balls (naphthalene) sublime easily at room
temperature.
 Learn about It!

IMFAs and Properties of Molecules

• The observable properties of molecules depend on the type
and strength of their intermolecular forces of attraction.

• The phase at room temperature, solubility, melting and

boiling points are some of the physical properties that can
be explained by IMFA.
 Learn about It!

Solubility
• It follows the rule “like dissolves like.”
• Miscible liquids are two liquids that dissolve together.
• Immiscible liquids are two liquids that do not mix
together.
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Solubility

Water and ethanol forming a solution.

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Solubility

Mixture of hexane and water.

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Solubility
• Substances or molecules that form interactions with water
are also described as hydrophilic.
• Substances or molecules that repel water are described as
hydrophobic.
• Some large molecules described as amphiphatic can have
both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.
 Learn about It!

Solubility

Soaps and micelle formation.

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Melting Points and Boiling Points

• Melting point is the temperature at which a substance
changes from solid to liquid.

• Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance

changes from liquid to gas.
 Learn about It!

Melting Points and Boiling Points

• Stronger intermolecular forces mean greater amount of
energy needed to break the attractive forces between
molecules.
• Substances with stronger IMFA have higher melting points
and boiling points compared to those with weaker IMFA.
 Learn about It!

Melting Points and Boiling Points

• For example, solids such as paradichlorobenzene have a
low melting point of 53.5oC due to its weak IMFA.
• Water has a higher melting point due to hydrogen bonding
as compared to other hydrogen compounds with no
apparent hydrogen bonding (i.e. hydrogen sulfide).
Hydrogen sulfide has a melting point of -82oC, whereas
water (ice) has a melting point of 0oC.
 Learn about It!

Melting Points and Boiling Points

• Stronger IMFAs mean greater energy required to break
these attractive forces. Therefore stronger IMFA leads to
higher boiling points.
• Water and hydrogen fluoride are polar molecules which
exhibit hydrogen bonding. A result of this interaction is
their boiling points being higher than nonpolar molecules.
• The boiling point of water is also significantly higher than
similar binary compounds of hydrogen and a group 6A
element.
Key Points

Molecules that have strong IMFA often exist as solids or

1 liquids while molecules that have weak IMFA often exist as
gases at room temperature.

When the solute and the solvent both exhibit the same
2 IMFA, they form a solution.

Substances with stronger IMFA have higher melting and

3 boiling points compared to those with weaker IMFA.
 Check Your Understanding

Assess the following statements if they are true

or false.
1. A substance that exhibits dipole-dipole forces and hydrogen
bonding will most likely have a higher melting point than a
similar substance that exhibits only LDF.
2. If the IMFA that exist in a substance is very strong, it will
probably be a gas at room temperature.
 Challenge Yourself

Explain how a dishwashing liquid can clean grease

on plates.
 Bibliography

Brown T.L. et al. 2012. Chemistry: The Central Science. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Bettelheim F.A. et al. 2015. Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry. Boston: Cengage
Learning.

Ebbing, Darrell and Gammon, Steven. 2016. General Chemistry. Boston: Cengage Learning.

Reger D.L. et al. 2009. Chemistry: Principles and Practice. Boston: Cengage Learning.

Spencer J.N. et al. 2010. Chemistry: Structure and Dynamics. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.