Senior High School

Physical Science
Week 3: Intermolecular Forces

CHRISTIAN JAY M. REPUBLICA

Subject Teacher

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

What This Module Is All About i

What I Need To Know i
How To Learn From This Module i
Icons For This Module ii

Lesson 1: Intermolecular Forces

What I Know 1
What’s In 3
What’s New 4
What is it 5
What’s More 9
What I Have Learned 10
What I Can Do 11
Assessment 12
What this module is all about

This module covers the following MELCS (1) Describe the general types of
intermolecular forces, (2) Explain the effect of intermolecular on the properties of
substances, and (3) explain how the structures of biological macromolecules such as
carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acid, and proteins determine their properties and function.

Lesson 1 in this module will help the learner to understand that there is a force of
interaction other than intramolecular forces that exists between molecules called as
intermolecular forces. Students will also learn how these forces affect the properties and
structure of some substances and why this
substance exist as liquid and others not.

Lesson 2 emphasizes the importance of biological macromolecules in our body

which includes carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid. The structures of these
macromolecules will also be given emphasis since it affects their properties and function.

What I Need to Know

After going through this module you are expected to:

1. Describe the general types of intermolecular forces (S11/12PS-IIIc-d-17)

2. Explain the effect of intermolecular forces on the properties of substances
(S11/12PS-IIId-e-19)

How to learn from this Module

To achieve the objectives of this module, do the following:

• Read the lesson carefully. Take your time.
• Follow instructions in doing the activities. Do it diligently.
• Be honest in doing the activities.
• Check your understanding by answering the post test at the end of the module.
 Lesson
Intermolecular Forces of
1 Attraction

What’s In

Have you ever wonder how sugar totally mixed up with water. What happened to the
particles of sugar? Where did it go? Is it gone? But you noticed that the water taste sweet
which means that sugar is still there.

Do you still remember your lessons in Grade 9 where you learned that atoms chemically
combined to form compound? The chemical attractions that held the atoms together in a
compound are referred as intramolecular forces. These forces of attractions exist between
atoms. In water for example, the atoms of hydrogen chemically combined with the atoms of
oxygen to form water molecule.

There are three types of intramolecular forces namely: (1) Ionic bond formed when
there is transfer of electrons and is usually formed between a metal and nonmetal; (2)
Covalent bond is a bond formed when there is sharing of electron. This type of bond exists
between two nonmetal atoms. There are two types of covalent bonds. A polar covalent bond
(formed when there is unequal sharing of electrons between two combining atoms, and non-
polar covalent bond (formed by equal sharing of electrons); and (3) metallic bond is formed
between positively charged atoms in which the free moving electrons are shared forming a
crystal lattice.

The forces of attraction that holds together sugar and water molecule in a mixture is
another type of attraction called intermolecular force. These forces of attraction exist
between molecules which hold them together.

Going through this module will help you understand the different intermolecular forces
of attraction that exists between molecules. You will also learn from this module that the type
of intermolecular forces present in the substance is responsible for its properties.
 What is It

Intermolecular forces are forces that exist between molecules, atoms, or ions.
Intermolecular forces of attraction are weaker than intramolecular in terms of energy involved
however; intermolecular forces are responsible for the properties of molecules. The
intermolecular orces explain why substance exists as solid, liquid or gas at room temperature.
The following are the types of intermolecular forces.

Ion-dipole Interaction

An ion-dipole interaction is the force of interaction that exists between charged particles
called ions and a polar molecule. When NaCl dissolves in water, NaCl dissociates to form Na
ion and Cl ion. Since water is a polar molecule, it has + a partial positive end and partial negative
end. Thus, the Na ion from the NaCl molecule will attract the partially negative end of the water
molecule, while the Cl ion of NaCl will also attract to the partially positive end of the water
molecule (Figure 1).

Ion-dipole

Fig. 1. Ion-dipole Interaction

Dipole-Dipole Interaction

Dipole- dipole interaction is the force of attraction that exists in polar molecule like HCI.
The unequal sharing of electrons between Hydrogen and Chlorine atoms in HCl creating a
partially positive pole in H and partially negative pole in Cl and is referred as DIPOLE (Figure 2).

Hδ+ Clδ- Hδ+ Clδ-

Dipole-dipole
Fig. 2. Dipole-dipole interaction
 In dipole-dipole interaction, the molecules with permanent dipoles attract each other in
way that the positive end of one molecule attracts the negative end of the other molecule.

Hydrogen Bond

The bond that exists between water molecules is Hydrogen bond (Fig.3). It is a special
kind of dipole-dipole interaction between Hydrogen which is a polar molecule and a highly
electronegative elements Fluorine, Oxygen and Nitrogen. In Hydrogen bond, the highly
electronegative element F, O, N causes the hydrogen to become strongly positive.

Fig.3. Hydrogen bond in water

The ability of water to form H-bond relates to its ability as a universal solvent. H-bond
prevents the water from evaporating quickly into the atmosphere. It also causes ice to float in
water since at freezing temperature, water molecules tend to form a crystal lattice as it expands.

London Dispersion Forces- is present in all molecules. It is the weakest intermolecular force
which is formed due to temporary dipoles of a non-polar molecule. The strength of the dispersion
forces increases as the molecular weight of the substance increases.

Chemical bond holds atom together in a molecule, this type of interaction is called
Intramolecular It is the interaction that exist within the molecule. Intermolecular forces on the
other hand, are the force of interaction that exists between molecules. Though this type of
interaction is weaker than intramolecular force it greatly affects the properties of substance.
In the activity, when you sprinkle powdered pepper (paminta) on the top of the water, it
floats on the surface. When a drop of liquid detergent touches the surface of the water, it breaks
the surface tension of the water thereby allowing the pepper to sink in the water.
Surface Tension – is a property of the surface of the water caused by the cohesive forces
(intermolecular forces) between molecules which allows liquid to create a thin film on its surface.
The stronger the intermolecular forces, the stronger the surface tension. The H-bond in water
produces a high surface tension in water; thus, allowing the paper clip floats in water. Substance
with weaker intermolecular forces will have lower surface tension.

Relative Strengths of Intermolecular Forces

Ion-dipole Strongest

H-bonding

Dipole-dipole

Dipole-induced dipole

London dispersion forces

Weakest

Properties of substances affected by intermolecular forces

• Surface Tension
This is the amount of energy required to stretch the surface area of liquids (e.g., 1 cm 2). Liquids
with high intermolecular forces tend to have high surface tensions. When water is dropped on a
waxy surface, it tends to form a round bead to minimize the surface area that it occupies.

An example of surface tension is capillary action. It is the ability of liquid molecules to move
against gravity. The forces bringing about capillary action are cohesion (intermolecular attraction
between like molecules) and adhesion (an attraction between unlike molecules.

Water molecules exhibit cohesion while the attraction between water and the sides of the glass
tube is adhesion. If adhesion is stronger than cohesion, the liquid is pulled upward.

If cohesion is greater than adhesion, there is a depression or lowering, resulting to a lower height
of the liquid in the capillary tube.

The stronger the intermolecular forces possessed by molecules, the higher is the surface tension
of the substance.
 • Viscosity

This is a measure of a liquid’s resistance to flow. The greater the viscosity of a liquid, the more
slowly it flows. The viscosity of substances decreases with high temperatures; thus, syrup flows
faster when hot.
The strength of intermolecular forces affects the ease with which substances flow. Liquids that
have high intermolecular forces are highly viscous. The presence of strong H-bonds in some
liquids makes these substances highly viscous. The LEDS of glycerol below shows three (3)
OH- groups that can participate in H-bonding whereas water has only one OH- group to form
Hbonding. Glycerol is more viscous than water.

Glycerol Water

• Boiling Point and Melting Point

Boiling point depends on the equilibrium vapour pressure exerted by the liquid or solid above
the liquid or the solid. This means that the rate of vaporization is equal to the rate of condensation
of the substance in a closed container. Vapour pressure also varies with temperature. The graph
below shows the effect of temperature on the vapour pressure of water.
 Sourcehttps://www.che
m.p
urdue.edu/gchelp/liquids
/vp ress.html

At 100OC, the vapour pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure of 1.00 atm. Boiling occurs
at this point, where the vapour pressure of water is equal to the pressure of the atmosphere.
There are substances that boil at a lower temperature and some at a higher temperature. These
temperatures depend on the vapour pressure exerted by the liquids or solids. Vapour pressure,
on the other hand, depends on the intermolecular forces present in the substances. When the
intermolecular forces are strong, the vapour pressure is low.
As a consequence, boiling will occur at a higher temperature because more energy is needed
to break the intermolecular bonds for the substance to change into vapour. Water, for example,
exhibits strong H-bonds such that vaporization needs more energy to change the liquid to
vapour.
London dispersion forces predominate in methane, CH4. These are the weakest forces of
attraction among molecules. It needs a little energy to break the bonds such that methane
changes to vapour easily. As a consequence, more vapour are released in which vapour
pressure will eventually equal to atmospheric pressure. Boiling then will occur. This explains why
water has a higher boiling point than methane.

This condition is also true for melting point. The ease with which bond breaks affects the melting
points of substances. The greater intermolecular forces there are among molecules the higher
is their melting point.
The strength of dispersion forces also depends on the size of the substance or the number of
electrons in the substances. The ease with which the electron distribution is distorted explains
the amount of dispersion forces that a substance exhibits. The distortion of the electron
distribution is known as polarizability.
The greater the polarizability of the electron distribution the greater are the dispersion forces.
When the dispersion forces are high, the boiling and melting points are also high.
Br2 and F2 are both diatomic gases. They are also both nonpolar, but Br 2 is a bigger molecule
than F2. The polarizability of Br2 is greater than F2 so it has greater dispersion forces. This
explains why Br2 has a higher boiling point than F2. Greater amount of energy is needed to
overcome the big dispersion forces in Br2 than in F2.

• Solubility

Solubility is the ability of a substance (solid, liquid, or gas) to dissolve in a given substance (solid,
liquid, or gas). The amount of any substance dissolved in a solvent (the substance that dissolves
another substance) depends on the types of interaction among molecules, pressure, and
temperature.

The rule “Like dissolves like” applies to solubility. This means that the kind of substances being
dissolved should exhibit the same properties or should be compatible for them to form solutions.
The polarity of molecules is an important factor for substances to dissolve in certain molecules.
Highly polar molecules will dissolve substances that have dipoles. The negatively charged
particles will be attracted to the positively-charged particles of the involved substances. This
attraction will subsist in the solutions.

Water is considered as a universal solvent because of its ability to dissolve almost everything.
Water is highly polar and has the ability to form H-bonds with polar substances.

Nonpolar substances, on the other hand will also dissolve nonpolar substances. Intermolecular
forces, such as dispersion forces, will prevail to maintain the dissolution of substances.

To predict the behaviour of substances, several considerations should be taken.

First, the polarity of substances should be determined together with the predominant
intermolecular forces present in the substances. For example, consider NaCl (sodium chloride)
and CH4 (methane). NaCl is a dipole while methane is nonpolar. Dipole-dipole interaction is
predominant in NaCl while dispersion forces are present among methane molecules.
Since dipole-dipole forces are stronger than dispersion forces, NaCl will have higher boiling and
melting points. It is also highly soluble in water due to ion-dipole interaction that will prevail.
Mwthane is not soluble in water because there are no poles that will participate in the dissolution
process with water.
Between CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride) and CHCl3 (trichloromethane), trichloromethane has a
higher boiling and melting points than carbon tetrachloride. It is also slightly soluble in water.
Trichloromethane is a polar molecule while carbon tetrachloride is a nonpolar molecule. The
dipoledipole interaction in CHCl3 is stronger than the dispersion forces in CCl4. Again the boiling
and melting points are higher in CHCl3 than in CCl4. Hence, since CHCl3 is polar, then it is
soluble in water.
Ammonia (NH3) and methyl fluoride (CH3F) are both polar but the ability of
NH3 to form H-bonds qualifies it for higher boiling and melting points than CH3F. At the same
time, H-bonding also enables NH3 to be more soluble in water than CH3F.
Phosphorus pentachloride (PCL5) and phosphorus pentabromide (PBr5) have the same
molecular shape and polarity. What matters here is the size of the molecule when comparing
the properties of these substances. Bromine contains more electrons than chlorine. This makes
PBr5 bigger and heavier. In this case, dispersion forces are greater in PBr5 so it has higher boiling
and melting points than PCL5. Since these two substances are both nonpolar, then they are not
soluble in water.

Pentane (C5H12) and isopentane (C5H12) both contain the same number of C and H atoms in the
formula. However, their molecular structures are different. Below are the LEDS of the two
substances.
Pentane has an extended structure while isopentane has a compact structure. Extended
structures have more opportunities for interactions than compact structures. Extended
molecules have stronger intermolecular forces than the compact structures. As such the boiling
point of pentane is higher than that of isopentane. It is also true for their melting points. Both
molecules are nonpolar so they are not soluble in water.

Pentane Isopentane

The nature of intermolecular forces present in molecules is a good gauge to predict properties
of substances.
 What’s More

Enrichment Activity: Do this…

1. Identify the possible intermolecular force attraction in the following:

a. NaCl ------ H2O Ion-dipole interaction

_________________________________
b. NH3 ------ NH3 Hydrogen bond
_________________________________
c. H2S ------- H2S Dipole-Dipole interaction
_________________________________
d. O2 ------- O2 London Dispersion
_________________________________
e. HCl ------ HCl Dipole-Dipole interaction
_________________________________
f. CH3OH ------ CH3OH Hydrogen Bond
_________________________________
g. H2 ---------- H2 Hydrogen Bond
_________________________________
h. Na2S ------ HCl Ion-dipole interaction
_________________________________
i. Br2 ------- Br2 London Dispersion
_________________________________
j. H2O ----- H2O Hydrogen Bond
_________________________________

2. Arrange the following compounds (H2O, H2S, Br2, NaCl) in increasing….

a. Boiling Points H2S, Br2, H2O, NaCl

________________________________________
b. Melting Points Br2, H2S, H2O, NaCl
________________________________________
c. Surface Tension H2S, Br2, NaCl, H2O
________________________________________
d. Vapor Pressure H2S, Br2, NaCl, H2O
________________________________________
e. Viscosity ________________________________________
 What I Have Learned

Let’s summarize it!

• Intramolecular forces are forces that holds atom together in a molecule.
• Intramolecular forces are forces between molecules. Ion-dipole, dipole- dipole,
Hydrogen bond and London Forces or Van der Waals Forces.

• Ion-dipole is the force of interaction that exists between charged particles called
ions and a polar molecule.

• Dipole-dipole interaction is the force of attraction that exists in polar molecule. In

dipoledipole interaction, the molecules with permanent dipoles attract each other in
way that the positive end of one molecule attracts the negative end of the other
molecule.

• Hydrogen bond- is a special type of dipole-dipole interaction where Hydrogen bond to

highly electronegative elements Fluorine, Oxygen and Nitrogen. In Hydrogen bond,
the highly electronegative element F, O, N causes the hydrogen to become strongly
positive.
• ondon Dispersion Forces- is the weakest intermolecular force which is formed due to
temporary dipoles of a non-polar molecule.

• Intermolecular forces affect the properties of substance such as boiling point, melting
point, surface tension, vapor pressure, and viscosity. In general, the stronger the
intermolecular forces the higher the boiling point, melting point, surface tension and
viscosity of the substance. However, in terms of vapor pressure, the stronger the
intermolecular the substance has the lower its vapor pressure.

• It also follows that, the larger the molecule, the stronger the intermolecular force it has.
• The relative strength of intermolecular forces is shown in figure 4 below:

Fig. 4. Relative strength of intermolecular forces

 Assessment

Direction: Read each statement carefully. Write the letter of your answer in your
notebook.

1. What type of bond exists between oxygen (O2) molecules?

C. Covalent bond C. Hydrogen bond D. Dipole-dipole D. London Dispersion

2. It is the weakest intermolecular attraction which is formed due to temporary dipole. A.

DipoledipoleB. ion-dipoleC. Hydrogen bond D. London Dispersion

3. Which of the following substances will exhibit dipole-dipole intermolecular forces?

A. N2 B. CH3OH C. CO2 D. H2S

4. The following atoms participate in hydrogen bonding EXCEPT

A.C B.F C.O D.N

5. Dissolving sodium chloride in water results to what type of intermolecular interaction?

A. Dipole-dipole C. Ion -dipole

B. Hydrogen bond D. London Dispersion

6-10. Refer to the following option

A. Dipole-dipole C. Ion -dipole

B. Hydrogen bond D. London dispersion

What type of intermolecular forces of attraction that exists between the following molecules?
6. NH3 ------ NH3

7. Li2S ------- H2O

8. N2 ------ N2

9. HBr ----- HBr

10. H2 ----- H2

11. Which of the following intermolecular forces has the highest boiling point?
A. Dipole- Dipole C, Ion-dipole
B. Hydrogen Bond D. London Dispersion
12. The type of intermolecular forces of attraction that exist in all molecules is
A. Covalent bond C. Hydrogen bond
B. Hydrogen bond D. London Dispersion forces

13. Substance with _________ intermolecular forces will have _________ vapor
pressure.

A. stronger, lower C. weaker, lower

B. stronger, higher D. weaker, the same

14. At which temperature would you expect water to have the greatest vapour
pressure?
A. 100 B. 75 C 9 D. 0

15 . Which of the following compounds most likely have the lowest boiling point?
A. C2H6 B. C3H8 C. C4H10 D. C5H12
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