GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2

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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

PROPERTIES OF LIQUIDS AND INTERMOLECULAR FORCES

Background Information for the Learners (BIL)

Liquids are made up of particles that are close to each other and have kinetic
energy.
The particles are not confined to a rigid position and they move, but they can
only travel at a short distance before they collide with each other and change the
direction of motion. They roll and slide on top of one another and flow. Since the
molecules flow, they take the shape of their container and diffuse moderately to a fixed
volume.
Liquids have moderately high density since they occupy a fixed volume and the
particles are attracted to each other. They also have low compressibility and thermal
expansion.
The kinetic energy of the molecules break away from their neighbor and thus,
the particles are joined by intermolecular forces.
Most liquids exist as molecules at room temperature. The presence of the
intermolecular forces results in special properties. The physical properties of liquids
depends on the type of the different intermolecular forces.

➢ SURFACE TENSION

Surface tension is the force that causes the surface of a liquid to contract. It is
the property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to
the cohesive nature of its molecules.
Phenomena such as insects walking on the surface of water, droplets of liquid
being spherical in shape, and needle remaining suspended on the surface of water
can all be explained in terms of surface tension.
 The strength of surface tension depends on the intermolecular force of
attraction. If the intermolecular force of attraction of a liquid is strong, then there is a
greater force needed to break through the surface and the greater the surface tension
is. Since the intermolecular forces vary in nature and strength, surface tension is
different for different form of liquids. Water has a high surface tension because of its
ability to form a hydrogen bond.
Temperature affects surface tension, an increase in the liquid’s temperature
causes water molecules at the surface to evaporate resulting to the weakening of the
force of attraction. Therefore, there is less force needed to break through the surface
of the molecules, this decreases surface tension.

Fig.1. The forces of attraction

between all the molecules in the
water pull molecules at the
surface together. The molecules
look like thin elastic membrane
of slightly denser molecules. The
Image Source: http://
hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/surten.html

Fig.2 examples of how surface tension is manifested.

 Molecules within a liquid are pulled in all directions by intermolecular forces.
Molecules at the surface are pulled downward and sideways by other molecules, not
upward away from the surface (shown in the diagram below).

These intermolecular forces tend to pull the molecules into the liquid and cause
the surface to tighten like an elastic film or “skin”.

Fig. 3 Intermolecular
forces that acts on a
liquid.
(Image Source:
www.bville.org/.../AP%20Chapter%2011%20Intermolecu
lar%20Forces)

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.
Capillary action is shown by water rising spontaneously in capillary tubes. A
thin film of water adheres to the wall of the glass tube as water molecules are attracted
to atoms making up the glass (SiO2). Surface tension causes the film of water to
contract and pulls the water up the tube.

Fig.4 Colored water rising

up in tubes.
 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).

These forces also define the shape of the surface of a liquid in a cylindrical
container (the meniscus!)

➢ VISCOSITY

Viscosity is the resistance of fluids to flow. A liquid’s resistance (friction) to

flow exists between the molecules of liquid when they move past each other. The
greater the resistance in flowing, the more viscous the liquid is.
Maple syrup is usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple
or black maple trees. It is boiled down so it becomes more concentrated and
viscous liquid. Maple syrup is more viscous than water. The difference in viscosity
between the two liquids is a measure of their intermolecular force of attraction. In
order to flow, molecules must move, roll and slide over one another. A liquid with
low intermolecular force allows its molecules to move freely and, therefore, has
lower viscosity.

An increase in temperature causes kinetic energy to increase. Heat breaks

the intermolecular forces causing the liquid molecules to move faster. This makes
the molecules flow more readily. Therefore, an increase in temperature decreases
viscosity.
 Since the structure of maple syrup contains a lot of O-H bond compared to
water, more H-bonds are formed in maple syrup. The greater the number of H-
bonds, the stronger the intermolecular force of attraction is, and the higher the
viscosity of the liquid.

Fig.5 The structure of maple syrup

shows the O-H bonds present. This
allows the formation of many
hydrogen bonds.

Viscosity is expressed in units of centipoise. The table below gives viscosities of

liquids of some pure substances. Water has viscosity of 1 centipoise or 0.001 Pa/s at
20 0C. Substances with lower viscosities include carbon tetrachloride and benzene.
Glycerol has a resistance to flow of more than a thousand times greater than water.
Liquids that have strong intermolecular forces have higher viscosities than those
that have weak intermolecular forces.
 Viscosity decreases as temperature increases: hot molasses flows much faster
than cold molasses.

➢ VAPOR PRESSURE

Vaporization is a change of state from liquid to gas, while the opposite process
(gas to liquid) is condensation. When liquid molecules break free from their neighbors
and escape into the gas phase, the process is called evaporation.
Vaporization is a broader term that includes evaporation and boiling. Gas and
vapor are similar but not the same. Vapor is used to refer to the gaseous state of a
substance which is normally a liquid or solid at room temperature. The average kinetic
energy of the liquid molecules of a substance depends on temperature. Most liquid
particles have higher kinetic energy and some others move at a slower pace.
Substances that evaporate readily are volatile. They have weak intermolecular
forces of attraction. Some examples of volatile liquids are alcohol, gasoline, paint
thinner and dry-cleaning solvents. Volatile substances burn more readily since they
easily combine with oxygen. As evaporation continues, the slow -moving particles are
left behind. Since the average kinetic energy is directly proportional to temperature,
temperature decreases. Therefore, evaporation is accompanied by cooling.
In a closed container half-filled with liquid, the fast-moving molecules also escape
into the gas phase forming vapor at the space above the liquid.
Gas molecules move in random directions, collide with other gas particles and the
walls of the container. Some will strike the liquid surface and condense back into it. In
the closed flask, none of the gas particles are able to get out of the container, and
eventually, the number of molecules that goes into the gaseous state would equal the
number of molecules that condenses back.
When the rate of condensation of the gas becomes equal to the rate of
evaporation of the liquid, the gas in the container is said to be in equilibrium with the
liquid.
 liquid ⇋ vapor (gas)
In this condition, the amount of gas and liquid no longer changes.

Fig.6
Equilibrium
between
liquid and
gas.
Image Source:
http://wpscms.pearsoncmg.com/wps/media/objects/3662/3750037/Aus_con
tent_10/Fig10-20.jpg

Like any gas sample, the molecules in the gaseous state over its liquid create a
pressure. The greater the number of gaseous particles, the greater the pressure
exerted by the gas. The pressure exerted by the gas in equilibrium with a liquid in a
closed container at a given temperature is called the equilibrium vapor pressure or
simply vapor pressure of the liquid.
The equilibrium vapor pressure is the maximum vapor pressure of a liquid at a
given temperature and that it is constant at a constant temperature. It increases with
temperature.
Vapor pressure is independent of the amount of liquid as well as the surface area
of the liquid in contact with the gas.
When temperature is high, more molecules have enough energy to escape from
the liquid. At a lower temperature, fewer molecules have sufficient energy to escape
from the liquid.

Consider the vapor pressure of the following substances;

 Ethyl alcohol and water have very low vapor pressures. Both liquids have the
strong dipole-dipole interaction called hydrogen bonding. Acetone is polar but does
not have H-bonding. Its vapor pressure is of intermediate value. Pentane is a nonpolar
substance, and its vapor pressure is high compared to those of water and ethyl
alcohol.
When liquids evaporate, the molecules have to have sufficient energy to break
the attractive forces that hold them in the liquid state. The stronger these
intermolecular forces are, the greater the amount of energy needed to break them.
For some substances with weak intermolecular forces, the energy requirement
is easily obtained from collisions with other molecules and absorption of energy from
the surroundings. Many molecules can vaporize, resulting in a high vapor pressure.
For molecules with strong intermolecular forces, gathering enough energy may not be
as easy, and register low vapor pressures.
The stronger the intermolecular forces of attraction, the lower the vapor pressure
of a liquid.

➢ MOLAR HEAT OF VAPORIZATION

The relationship between vapor pressure and strength of intermolecular forces is

consistent with the trends in two other properties of liquids, the enthalpy or molar heat
of vaporization, and the boiling point of the liquid.
The molar heat of vaporization (ΔHvap) is the energy required to vaporize 1 mole
of a liquid at a given temperature. H is the symbol for enthalpy, which means heat
content at a given standard condition.

Molar heat of vaporization and boiling points of selected

substances.
 The heat of vaporization may be considered a measure of the strength of
intermolecular forces in a liquid. If the intermolecular attraction is strong, it takes a lot
of energy to free the molecules from the liquid phase and the heat of vaporization will
be high.
It is easier to vaporize acetone (lower Hvap) than water (higher Hvap) at a given
temperature, and more acetone escapes into the vapor phase at a given temperature.
Acetone is a polar substance but has no H-bonding. It has weaker intermolecular
forces than water, and therefore acetone molecules are held less tightly to one another
in the liquid phase.
A practical way to demonstrate differences in the molar heat of vaporization is
by rubbing acetone on your hands. Compare what is felt when water is used. Acetone
has a lower ΔHvap than water so that heat from our hands is enough to increase the
kinetic energy of the these molecules and provide additional heat to vaporize them.
As a result of the loss of heat from the skin, our hands feel cool.

➢ BOILING POINT
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the liquid converts into
a gas.
A liquid boils when its vapor pressure equals the pressure acting on the surface
of the liquid. The boiling point is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid
is equal to the external pressure.
The normal boiling point is the temperature at which the liquid converts to a gas
when the external pressure is 1 atm. The normal boiling point of water is 100 OC. The
boiling point of a liquid depends on the external pressure. For example, at 1 atm, water
boils at 100 OC, but if the pressure is reduced to 0.5 atm, water boils at only 82 OC.
The boiling point is related to molar heat of vaporization: the higher ΔHvap, the
higher the boiling point.

Learning Competency:
Describe the following properties of liquid, and explain the effect of intermolecular
forces on these properties; surface tension, viscosity, vapor pressure, boiling point,
and molar heat of vaporization (STEM_GC11IMFIIIa-c-102
Activity 1: KNOW ME!
Directions: Determine which of the following terms refer to each statement.
a. Boiling point
b. Heat of vaporization
c. Surface tension
d. Viscosity

1. It is responsible for the spherical drops of water and is the reason why
some insects can walk on the surface of water.
2. It is the measure of a liquid’s resistance to flow.
3. The temperature at which vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the
atmospheric pressure.
4. The heat needed to vaporize a certain amount of liquid.
5. A certain substance A has a boiling point of 78 degrees Celsius and
substance B has a boiling point of 110 degrees Celsius. Answer the following
questions.
a. Which substance has a higher vapour pressure?
b. Which substance has a stronger force of attraction?
c. Which substance has a higher heat of vaporization?
d. Which one will have a higher viscosity?

Activity 2: I CAN DO IT!

Directions: Identify the words that are being described on the statement below.
Choose the correct answer from the given words below.

Surface tension Viscosity

Vapour pressure Capillary action
Molar heat of vaporization Boiling point
Vapor Liquid flow
Fluid Vaporization

1. 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.
 2. A gas or a liquid; a substance that can flow.
3. The tendency of a liquid to rise in narrow tubes or to be drawn into small
openings.
4. A measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow.
5. A gaseous substance that exist naturally as a liquid or solid at normal
temperature.
6. The change of phase from liquid to vapor (gaseous phase).
7. The equilibrium pressure of a vapor above its liquid; that is, the pressure
exerted by the vapor above the surface of the liquid in a closed container.
8. The temperature at which a liquid boils. The boiling point of a liquid when
the external pressure is 1 atm is called the normal boiling point.
9. The energy (usually in kilojoules) required to vaporize 1 mole of a liquid at
a given temperature.

Activity 3: PICTURE SHOWS WHAT I KNOW!

Directions: Describe what is happening to the water molecules in the two flasks
shown in the picture.

Image Source: http://

boomeria.org/physicslectures/heat/equili
brium.jpg
Guide questions:
➢ What happens to the molecules of water in the container when the
temperature increases?
➢ Container B shows equilibrium; how does it manifest such balance?
1. _
_

2. _
_

Activity 4: MIND THE GRAPH

Direction: Explain what the plot presents.

a. Plot of vapour pressure of water as it varies with temperature.

➢ How does temperature affects vapour pressure based on the given graph?

Answer:
_
 b.

Image Source: http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/

3311/3391416/ blb1105.html

➢ The graph shows the four common liquids, what happens to their vapour
pressure as temperature increases?
Answer:
_
_

Activity 5: CRITICAL THINKER

Directions: Analyze the problem and answer the questions below.

1. At 50. ° C the vapor pressure of ethanol is 0.30 atm, acetic acid is 0.08 atm,
water is 0.12 atm, and acetone is 0.84 atm.

a. Arrange these substances in order of increasing rates of evaporation.

b. Arrange these substances in order of increasing boiling point temperature

c. Arrange these substances in order of increasing intermolecular forces.

 2. Given molecular structures of water and glycerol, can you tell why glycerol
has a higher viscosity than water?

Answer: _ _
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Reflection:

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