Polarity and

Intermolecular Forces
of Attraction
Molecules in covalent bond tend to share electrons to complete the
required electrons in their outermost shell (valence shell) unlike in an
ionic bond where electrons are transferred.
 The extent of sharing electrons between atoms in a molecule is
dependent on the atom’s electronegativity, or the ability of each atom
in a chemical bond to attract electrons toward it.
 The higher the electronegativity value, the higher is the
tendency of the atom to attract electrons toward it.
In the case of H2, O2, and N2, there is an equal sharing
of electrons in the covalent bonds of each molecule because the bonded
atoms are the same kind (e.g., a hydrogen atom bonded with another
hydrogen atom)
 Thus, they have the same electronegativity value. The bond that
exists between those atoms is called nonpolar covalent bond.
 Let us look at hydrogen chloride (HCL), which has different atoms
involved in the covalent. Hydrogen has an electronegativity of 2.1
while chlorine has an electronegativity of 3.0.
 Because chlorine has a higher electronegativity value, electrons tend
to lean toward chlorine; thus, electrons in two different atoms involved
in the bond are unequally shared and a polar covalent bond is
formed.
 Remember!

Chemical bonds allow atoms to attain their stability by completing the

required electrons in the outermost shell. Thus, electrons form bonds
that can be ionic (combination of metal and a nonmetal), covalent
(nonmetal and another nonmetal)
 Due to the unequal sharing of electrons, the electron cloud leans
toward the more electronegative element.
 This forms partial positive (δ+) and partial negative (δ-) charge.
Because the electrons are residing more on the chlorine atom, the
electron cloud of chlorine is larger than that of hydrogen.
 In this case, the hydrogen atom has a lower electronegativity value;
thus, it acquires the partial positive charge, and the shared electrons
are pulled away from it.
 On the other hand, the chlorine atom, which has a higher
electronegativity value, acquires the partial negative charge; the shared
electrons are residing more on its side.
 Therefore, the dipole moment (symbolized by a crossed arrow) is
directed toward the chlorine atom.
 REMEMBER!

Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share

electrons. They can be polar if the sharing is
unequal and non-polar if the sharing is equal.
The different types of bonds result to different
polarity which gives wide variety and property
of materials.
 In some cases, a molecule may have polar bonds but can become a
nonpolar molecule.
 Although electronegativity is enough to identify the type of bond, the
shape of the molecule should be considered to distinguish whether it is a
polar or nonpolar molecule.
 For example, carbon dioxide contains a polar bond, this is because of
the large electronegativity difference between carbon and oxygen.
 However, CO2 is linear so its bond point should be 180° from each
atom.
 This results into two identical bond polarities that are counterbalanced
and gives the molecule no net dipole moment. If the molecule would
have 0 as its dipole moment, the molecule is nonpolar.
The polarity of (a) formaldehyde and (b) carbon dioxide.
 Recall that electronegativity is the ability of an atom in a chemical
bond to attract electrons towards it.
 Based on Linus Pauling’s Scale, fluorine is the most electronegative
element, while francium is the least electronegative.
 Pauling scale gives a numerical value of electronegativity based on the
bond energy calculations.
 The difference in the electronegativity values of the atoms in a
molecule or a compound determines the type of polarity of bond that is
formed.
 An ionic bond is formed when the difference in electronegativity
values (∆EN) of the element is greater than or equal to 2.o eV. A
nonpolar covalent bond is formed when the difference in
electronegativity values is equal to or less than 0.5 eV.
 On the other hand, a polar bond is formed when the difference in
electronegativity values is greater than 0.5 eV but is less than 2.0 eV.
Electronegativity Difference and Type of Bond
Look at some examples below.
 Intermolecular forces, which can be attractive or repulsive, hold
molecules together.
 These intermolecular forces are accountable for the properties of
substances.
 Moreover, intermolecular forces also explain why substances exist as
solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature.
Intermolecular and Inter-ionic Forces of Attraction
 There are four types of intermolecular forces of attraction for interactions
involving covalent molecules:
1. Dipole-dipole
2. Ion-dipole
3. Dispersion Forces
4. Hydrogen Bonding
 The first three types are known as van der
Waals forces, after the Dutch physicist
Johannes van der Waals. On the other
hand, hydrogen bonding is a special type
of dipole-dipole interaction.
 Dipole-dipole forces are attractive forces existing between polar
molecules (molecules that exhibit dipole moment), such as HCL.
 Because there is an unequal sharing of electrons between the H and Cl
atoms, partial positive and partial negative poles exist and are referred to as
a dipole.
 The more electronegative atom becomes partially negative
and has the most electron density, whereas the least
electronegative atom becomes partially positive and
has a lesser density.
 Because poles of opposite charges attract, the partial negative end (i.e.,
the Cl atom) will be attracted to the partial positive and (i.e., the H atom)of
another HCL molecule.
 This force is weaker than ionic and hydrogen bonds.
 Remember!

Dipole-dipole forces result between two polar molecules. Since a polar

molecule has a partial positive and partial negative side, these are attracted to
each other.
 Ion-dipole exist in the attraction between a charged particle called ion
(which can be a positively charged cation or a negatively charged anion)
and a polar molecule.
 This is exhibited in hydration, or the interaction of water molecules with
the cations and anions of ionic compounds dissolved in water.
 When NaCl is dissolved in water (H2O), NaCl will dissociate in sodium
cations (Na+)and chlorine anions (Cl-).
 Because water is a polar molecule and has partial negative and partial
positive poles, the Na+ will form an ion-dipole interaction with the partial
negative part of the of the water molecule (O), while the Cl will form an
ion-dipole interaction with the partial positive part of the water molecule
(H+).
 Remember!

Ion-dipole forces exist between ions (charged atoms) with polar molecules.
The partial positive charge of a polar molecule is attracted to an anion and its
partial negative can be attracted to cation.
 Dispersion forces or London forces are the weakest forces that are formed
due to temporary dipoles induced in nonpolar molecules, hence, the term
induced-dipole.
 This results when an ion or polar molecule cause a distortion in the
electron clouds of the nonpolar molecule.
 Distortion caused by an ion is called ion-induced dipole as shown in the
figure below.
An illustration of an Ion-induced dipole.
On the other hand, distortion caused by a polar molecule on a non-polar
molecular is called dipole-induced as shown below.
 Remember!

Not all the weakest are entirely useless. Although not considered to be a
strong intermolecular force, London dispersion force allows nonpolar
substances to condense into liquids and to freeze into solids when
temperature is sufficiently
Low.
 The hydrogen bond is a special type of dipole-dipole interaction between
the hydrogen atom in a polar molecule and the highly electronegative
atoms, N, O, and F to another molecule.
 The water molecule is a very good example of a substance that exhibits
hydrogen bonding.
Hydrogen Bonding H2O
 The electronegative atoms, like oxygen, cause the bond to be polar.
 These atoms become slightly charged, and the hydrogen atom becomes
slightly positively charged. Thus, a dipole exists.
 A hydrogen bond is generally denoted as a dotted line between the
hydrogen and the unshared electron pair of the other electronegative atom.
 Remember!

The hydrogen bond is the strongest intermolecular force of attraction. It is

present in compounds containing a hydrogen atom attached to a highly
electronegative atom like fluorine, oxygen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Is there any questions?
Thank you for
listening!