Green APLEducation Ltd AS CHEMISTRY

INTERMOLECULAR FORCES
1. By considering electronegativities of the elements and molecular shapes, name the
principle type of intermolecular force which exists in the following substances.
Substance Main intermolecular force

Carbon monoxide, CO

Silane, SiH4

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2

Methane, CH4

Water, H2O

Hydrogen, H2
(6)
2. The boiling points and relative molecular masses of the hydrogen halides are shown in
the table below:
HF HCl HBr HI
Mr 20 36.5 81 128
B. pt./K 293 188 206 238
a) Hydrogen fluoride, HF, has a much higher boiling point than expected from its
relative molecular mass. Explain why the boiling point of HF is quite high by reference
to the intermolecular forces which are present.

(2)

b) Describe how the intermolecular forces arise in hydrogen fluoride.

(4)

c) Why is the boiling point of hydrogen bromide higher than the boiling point of
hydrogen chloride?

(2)

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3. A molecule of methanol has the structure shown below.

A
H
H
H C O

B H

a) From your knowledge of the electronic configurations of carbon and oxygen

deduce the bond angles marked A and B.
A B (2)
b) Draw another molecule of methanol next to that shown to illustrate how the two
methanol molecules are attracted by a hydrogen bond. Include partial charges and all
lone pairs of electrons in the diagram.
(3)
4. The boiling points of the noble gases are: He 4K; Ar 87K; Kr 121K; Xe 165K;
Ra 211K.
a) What are the main type of intermolecular forces which exist in noble gases?
(1)

b) Why are the boiling points of the noble gases very low temperatures?

(2)

c) Describe why the intermolecular forces exist in the noble gases.

(4)

d) Why do the boiling points of the noble gases show a steady increase from helium to
xenon?

(2)

Total = 28 marks

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