Lesson 4:

General Types of
Intermolecular Forces
Lesson Objectives:
1. To describe the general types of
intermolecular forces.

2. Specify the types of intermolecular forces

given the properties of substance.

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Why is the
needle
floating?
Density
Characteristics
Intermolecular forces

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Intermolecular forces
• There are 2 types of attraction in molecules: intramolecular
bonds & intermolecular forces
• We have already looked at intramolecular bonds (ionic, polar,
non-polar)
• Intermolecular forces (IMF) have to do with the attraction
between molecules (vs. the attraction between atoms in a
molecule)
“ Intermolecular forces (IMF)
(or secondary forces) are the
forces which mediate
interaction between atoms,
including forces of attraction
or repulsion which act between
atoms and other types of
neighboring particles hydrogen oxygen hydrogen
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Questions:
𖤓 1. Why do some solids dissolve in water but others do
not?
𖤓 2. Why are some substances gases at room temperature,
but others are liquid or solid?
𖤓 3. What gives metals the ability to conduct electricity,
what makes non-metals brittle?

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 The 4 types of Intermolecular Forces
Dipole-dipole Hydrogen Bonding Dispersion Forces Ion-Dipole
interactions Interactions

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 Dipole-dipole Interactions
Dipole-Dipole interactions result when two dipolar molecules interact with each other
through space. When this occurs, the partially negative portion of one of the polar
molecules is attracted to the partially positive portion of the second polar molecule.
This type of interaction between molecules accounts for many physically and
biologically significant phenomena such as the elevated boiling point of water.

Dipoles occur due to the unequal sharing of electrons between atoms in a molecule. Those atoms that are
more electronegative pull the bonded electrons closer to themselves. The buildup of electron density around
an atom or discreet region of a molecule can result in a molecular dipole in which one side of the molecule
possesses a partially negative charge and the other side a partially positive charge. Molecules with dipoles
that are not canceled by their molecular geometry are said to be polar.

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Hydrogen Bonding
Hydrogen bonding is a special type of dipole-dipole
attraction between molecules, not a covalent bond to a
hydrogen atom. It results from the attractive force
between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a very
electronegative atom such as a N, O, or F atom and
another very electronegative atom.

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Dispersion Forces
The Dispersion Forces or also known as The London dispersion force is
the weakest intermolecular force. The London dispersion force is a temporary
attractive force that results when the electrons in two adjacent atoms occupy
positions that make the atoms form temporary dipoles. This force is sometimes
called an induced dipole-induced dipole attraction. London forces are the
attractive forces that cause nonpolar substances to condense to liquids and to
freeze into solids when the temperature is lowered sufficiently.

Because of the constant motion of the electrons, an atom or molecule can

develop a temporary (instantaneous) dipole when its electrons are distributed
unsymmetrically about the nucleus.

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Ion-Dipole Interactions
An ion-dipole force is an attractive force that results from the electrostatic
attraction between an ion and a neutral molecule that has a dipole.
Ion-dipole attractions become stronger as either the charge on the ion
increases, or as the magnitude of the dipole of the polar molecule increases.

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Intermolecular Forces as reflected by the
properties of Substances
Properties of substances depend upon the types of intermolecular
forces that hold them together like when molecule with dipole
moment meet another molecule with dipole, too. The positive end of
the dipole gets attracted to the negative end of the other dipole.

Physical properties of covalent substances can be classified into (a)

molecular covalent type, and (b) the network type species.

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The End!

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