INTERMOLECULAR

FORCES
Learning Competency:
Describe and differentiate the types of intermolecular
forces (STEM_GC11IMFIIIa-c- 100)
 States of Matter
The fundamental difference between states of matter is
the strength of the intermolecular forces of attraction.
Stronger forces bring molecules closer together.
Solids and liquids are referred to as the condensed phases.
 Intermolecular Forces
• The attractions between molecules are not nearly
as strong as the intramolecular attractions (bonds)
that hold compounds together.
• Many physical properties reflect intermolecular
forces, like boiling points, melting points, viscosity,
surface tension, and capillary action.
 Intermolecular forces vs.
Intramolecular forces
• Atoms can form stable units called molecules
by sharing electrons.
• Intramolecular (within molecules) forces
holds atoms together in a molecule.
• It stabilizes individual molecules.
• These forces are simply the chemical bonds such
as ionic and covalent bonding.
• Intermolecular forces are attractive forces
between molecules.
• Responsible for the non-ideal behavior of gases
(exerts more effort to liquids and solids).
• Intermolecular forces are collectively known as van der
Waals forces named after Dutch chemist, Johannes van
der Waal.
• Van der Waals forces are electrical in nature; that is, they
result in the attraction between centers of opposite charge
in two molecules close to each other.
• It is important to recognize that when a substance
such as water changes from solid to liquid to gas,
the molecules remain intact.
• The changes in states are due to changes in the
forces among the molecules rather than in those
within the molecules.
 Types of Intermolecular Forces
London Dispersion forces
-are intermolecular forces of attraction that exist between all
atoms and molecules.
• Dispersion forces are the only kind of intermolecular forces
present among symmetrical nonpolar substances such as
O2 and CO2 and monoatomic species such as noble gases.
The figure shows how a nonpolar particle
(in this case a helium atom) can be temporarily polarized to allow
dispersion force to form.
The tendency of an electron cloud to distort is
called its polarizability.
• Dispersion forces are weak attractive forces that
results from the continuous movement of electrons
in particles.
• Nonpolar molecules have zero dipole moment
because their electron density is uniform and
symmetrical.
• Electrons have some freedom to move around the
molecule.
• This induces temporary dipoles (instantaneous dipoles) in
neighboring atoms or molecules.
• As electron clouds become larger and more diffuse, they
are attracted less strongly by their own positive nuclei.
Thus, they are more easily distorted, or polarized by the
adjacent/nearby nuclei.
• Polarization increases with increasing numbers of
electrons and therefore with increasing size of
molecules.
• Dispersion forces are generally stronger for
molecules that are larger or have more electrons.
 Factors Which Affect Amount of Dispersion
Force in a Molecule
• number of electrons in an atom (more electrons, more
dispersion force)
• size of atom or molecule/molecular weight
• shape of molecules with similar masses (more compact,
less dispersion force)
 Polarizability & Boiling Point
• If something is easier to polarize, it has a lower
boiling point.
• Remember: This means less intermolecular force
(smaller molecule: lower molecular weight, fewer
electrons).
 Dipole–Dipole Forces
• Dipole-dipole forces are attractive forces between polar
molecules, that is, between molecules that possess dipole
moments.
• Their origin is electrostatic, and they can be understood in terms
of Coulomb’s law.
• Dipole-dipole forces are the attraction between the positive end
of one molecule and the negative end of another.
• The larger the dipole moment, the greater the force.
• Polar molecules have a more positive and a
more negative end–a dipole (two poles, δ+
and δ−).
• The oppositely charged ends attract each
other.
•Dipoles form when there is a large
difference in electronegativity between
two atoms joined by a covalent bond.
• For molecules of approximately equal mass
and size, the more polar the molecule, the
higher its boiling point.
 Hydrogen bonding

• Hydrogen bond is a special case of very strong dipole-dipole interaction.

• Strong hydrogen bonding occurs among polar covalent molecules
containing H and one of the three small, highly electronegative elements –
F, O, or N
• Like ordinary dipole-dipole interactions, hydrogen bonds result from the
attractions between partial positive atoms of one molecule, in this case H
atoms and the partial negative atoms of another molecule.
• A hydrogen bond is about five to ten times stronger than other dipole-
dipole interactions.
 Ion-Dipole Forces

• Ion-dipole force acts between an ion (either cation or

anion) 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 end of the ionic
compound, in turn, becomes surrounded by the partial
positive hydrogen ion in water.
• In short, the positive pole is attracted to the negative ion (anion), while the
negative pole is attracted to a positive ion (cation).
• Ion- dipole interactions are involved in solution process like in the case of
sodium chloride (table salt) dissolving in water.
• Na+ and Cl- ions are dispersed amidst water molecules. The Na+ will be
surround by the partial negative oxygen of water molecule while the Cl- will
be surround by the partial positive H of water molecule.
• The strength of this interaction depends on the charge and size of the ion
and on the magnitude of the dipole moment and size of the molecule.
• The charges on cations are generally more concentrated because cations
are usually smaller than anions.
• A cation interacts more strongly with dipoles than does an anion having a
charge of the same magnitude.