Unit 7.

5 Comparing
Intermolecular Forces

Teacher: Dr. Van Der Sluys

 Objectives
• To determine
– Relative melting and boiling points
– Relative solubility of various combinations
of compounds
 Vocabulary
• Solution - a homogeneous mixture of
two or more compounds.
• Solvent - The compound that comprises
the majority of a solution.
• Solute - A minor component of a
solution.
• Aqueous solution - A mixture of liquid
water and one or more solutes.
 Types of Bonding
Intramolecular Intermolecular

Nonpolar Covalent London Dispersion Forces

London Dispersion when symmetric

Polar Covalent
Dipole-Dipole when asymmetric
Extremely Polar Covalent: H-N,
Hydrogen Bonding
H-O or H-F bonds
Weakly Ionic: Soluble in water due to
NaCl ion-dipole interactions
Extremely Ionic: Insoluble in water due to high
Fe2O3 crystal lattice energies
 Like Dissolves Like
• In order for a mixture to combine and become
homogeneous on the molecular level, the
compounds must have similar intermolecular
bonding properties, i.e. ethanol and water.
• Two compounds that have very different
intermolecular forces will not mix and will
produce a heterogeneous mixture, i.e. Italian
salad dressing.
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
ionic
Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound London Dipole Bonding Ionic have
Dispersion (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
ionic
Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound London Dipole Bonding Ionic have
Dispersion (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

CH4
methane

H 2O
water
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
ionic
Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound London Dipole Bonding Ionic have
Dispersion (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

NH3
ammonia

H 2O
water
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
ionic
Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound London Dipole Bonding Ionic have
Dispersion (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

Fe2O3
Iron(III)
oxide
C8H18
octane
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
ionic
Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound London Dipole Bonding Ionic have
Dispersion (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

CO2
Carbon
dioxide
H 2O
water
 Melting and Boiling Points
• The relative melting and boiling of various
compounds are due to the strength of intermolecular
forces.
• If two compounds have the same types of
intermolecular forces, the total number of electrons
can usually be used to predict the degree of London
dispersion forces. The compound with more
electrons usually has the higher melting and boiling
points.
• For compounds with hydrogen bonding, the ratio of
hydrogen atoms to lone pairs can be important.
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
London ionic
Dispersion Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound (Total Dipole Bonding Ionic have
number of (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
electrons?) H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

CH4
methane

C 2H 6
ethane
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
London ionic
Dispersion Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound (Total Dipole Bonding Ionic have
number of (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
electrons?) H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

CO2
Carbon
dioxide
H 2O
water
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
London ionic
Dispersion Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound (Total Dipole Bonding Ionic have
number of (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
electrons?) H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

NaCl
Sodium
chloride
C6H14
Hexane
Comparing Intermolecular
Forces
Strongly
London ionic
Dispersion Dipole- Hydrogen Weakly (Both ions
Compound (Total Dipole Bonding Ionic have
number of (AXE?) (H-F, H-N, (Ions with charges >2
electrons?) H-O) low Usually
charges) Insoluble in
H2O)

CO2
Carbon
dioxide
H 2O
water
 Summary
• If compounds have similar
intermolecular forces they tend to form
homogeneous solutions, “like dissolves
like.”
• The strength of intermolecular forces
can be used to predict relative melting
and boiling points