Manuel S.

Enverga University Foundation

Lucena City, Philippines
………………………………………………………
Granted Autonomous Status

CHAPTER 3
INTERMOLECULAR FORCES

Intermolecular forces are defined as the set of attractive and repulsive forces that
occur between the molecules as a result of the polarity of the molecules.
When two or more atoms are joined by chemical bonds they form a molecule, electrons
travel up to the new molecule and are concentrated in the most electronegativity atom
area, the electronegativity is defined as property that have the atoms or molecules to
attract electrons. The concentration of electrons in a defined area of the molecule
creates a negative charge, while the absence of electrons creates a positive charge.

INTERMOLECULAR FORCES VS INTRAMOLECULAR FORCES

Intramolecular forces (bonding forces) exist within molecules and influence the
chemical properties While Intermolecular forces exist between molecules and influence
the physical properties.

Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction or repulsion which act between
neighboring particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). These forces are weak compared to
the intramolecular forces, such as the covalent or ionic bonds between atoms in a
molecule. For example, the covalent bond present within a hydrogen chloride (HCl)
molecule is much stronger than any bonds it may form with neighboring molecules.

We can think of H2O in its three forms, ice, water and

steam. In all three cases, the bond angles are the same,
the dipole moment is the same, the molecular shape is the
same and the hybridization of the oxygen is the
same. However, the physical properties of H2O are very
different in the three states. As solid ice, H2O possesses
a definite shape and volume. It is incompressible. Liquid
water possesses a definite volume, but will assume the
shape of its container. It is slightly compressible. Steam
will assume both the shape and volume of its container and
is extremely compressible. Intermolecular forces (IMF) are
the forces which cause real gases to deviate from ideal gas
behavior. They are also responsible for the formation of
the condensed phases, solids and liquids.

NATSCIE
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation
Lucena City, Philippines
………………………………………………………
Granted Autonomous Status

TYPES OF ATTRACTIVE INTERMOLECULAR FORCES

• Dipole-dipole forces
o electrostatic interactions of permanent dipoles in
molecules; includes hydrogen bonding.
o occur when the partial charges formed within one
molecule are attracted to an opposite partial
charge in a nearby molecule.
o Polar molecules align so that the positive end of
one molecule interacts with the negative end of
another molecule.
o Unlike covalent bonds between atoms within a
molecule (intramolecular bonding), dipole-dipole
interactions create attractions between molecules
of a substance (intermolecular attractions).

• Ion-dipole forces
o electrostatic interaction involving a partially
charged dipole of one molecule and a fully charged
ion.
o 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.
o Most commonly found in solutions. Especially
important for solutions of ionic compounds in polar
liquids.
o A positive ion (cation) attracts the partially negative
end of a neutral polar molecule.
o A negative ion (anion) attracts the partially positive
end of a neutral polar molecule.

• Instantaneous dipole-induced dipole forces or London

dispersion forces
o forces caused by correlated movements of the
electrons in interacting molecules, which are the
weakest of intermolecular forces and are
categorized as van der Waals forces.

NATSCIE
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation
Lucena City, Philippines
………………………………………………………
Granted Autonomous Status

HYDROGEN BONDING
▪ A hydrogen bond is a strong intermolecular force created by
the relative positivity of hydrogen atoms.
▪ Hydrogen bonds are strong intermolecular forces created
when a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom
approaches a nearby electronegative atom.
▪ Greater electronegativity of the hydrogen bond acceptor will
lead to an increase in hydrogen-bond strength.
▪ The hydrogen bond is one of the strongest intermolecular
attractions, but weaker than a covalent or an ionic bond.
▪ Hydrogen bonds are responsible for holding together DNA,
proteins, and other macromolecules.
HYDROGEN BOND DONOR
▪ A hydrogen atom attached to a relatively electronegative
atom is a hydrogen bond donor. This electronegative atom
is usually fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen.
▪ The electronegative atom attracts the electron cloud from
around the hydrogen nucleus and, by decentralizing the
cloud, leaves the hydrogen atom with a positive partial
charge.
▪ Because of the small size of hydrogen relative to other
atoms and molecules, the resulting charge, though only
partial, is stronger.
▪ In the molecule ethanol, there is one hydrogen atom
bonded to an oxygen atom, which is very electronegative.
This hydrogen atom is a hydrogen bond donor.

HYDROGEN BOND ACCEPTOR

▪ A hydrogen bond results when this strong partial positive charge attracts a lone pair of
electrons on another atom, which becomes the hydrogen bond acceptor.
▪ An electronegative atom such as fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen is a hydrogen bond
acceptor, regardless of whether it is bonded to a hydrogen atom or not.
▪ Greater electronegativity of the hydrogen bond acceptor will create a stronger hydrogen
bond.
▪ The diethyl ether molecule contains an oxygen atom that is not bonded to a hydrogen
atom, making it a hydrogen bond acceptor.

NATSCIE
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation
Lucena City, Philippines
………………………………………………………
Granted Autonomous Status

CHEMICAL BOND
Why is water liquid? Sugar solid? And oxygen a gas at room temperature? Why are
metals good conductors of electricity while some do not? Where do these differences lie?
These differences lie on the way the compositions of substances are held together and
the force that held/hold them is known as chemical bonding.
When do this bond forms? They formed either by the transfer of electron from one atom
to another or by sharing of electrons, bonding can be classified into ionic and covalent.

IONIC BOND
Ionic bonding is the complete transfer of valence electron(s) between atoms. It is a type
of chemical bond that generates two oppositely charged ions. In ionic bonds, the metal
loses electrons to become a positively charged cation, whereas the nonmetal accepts
those electrons to become a negatively charged anion. Ionic bonds require an electron
donor, often a metal, and an electron acceptor, a nonmetal.

Ionic bonding is observed because metals have few electrons in their outer-most orbitals.
By losing those electrons, these metals can achieve noble gas configuration and satisfy
the octet rule. Similarly, nonmetals that have close to 8 electrons in their valence shells
tend to readily accept electrons to achieve noble gas configuration. In ionic bonding, more
than 1 electron can be donated or received to satisfy the octet rule. The charges on the
anion and cation correspond to the number of electrons donated or received. In ionic
bonds, the net charge of the compound must be zero.

OCTET RULE
States that in order for elements to be stable, the number of their valence electrons
or the electrons in their outermost energy levels must be eight like the
characteristics of all noble gases except Helium with two electrons.
These valence electrons are represented by dots surrounding symbol of the atom or
element in what is called the Lewis Dot symbol or Lewis Dot Formula. Lewis dot are short
hand to represent the valence electrons of an atom, structures are written as the element
symbol surrounded by dots that represent valence electrons.
For example, the Lewis diagrams for hydrogen, helium, and carbon are:

The formation of ionic compounds is often shown with dot and cross models.
Example:
12 Magnesium = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 = 2)8)2
9 Flourine = 1s2 2s2 2p5 = 2)7

Using dot: Mg : : Fl

NATSCIE
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation
Lucena City, Philippines
………………………………………………………
Granted Autonomous Status

COVALENT BOND
Covalent bonding is the sharing of electrons between atoms. This type of bonding occurs
between two atoms of the same element or of elements close to each other in the periodic
table. This bonding occurs primarily between nonmetals;
Sharing of electrons can be illustrated using the electron dot symbols, as shown:

Another example, is chlorine they react by sharing electrons. Chlorine can share one
more electron to complete the octet rule and attain a stable configuration. It can share its
unpaired electron with another chlorine atom so that both will have eight electrons in their
outermost shell.

TYPE OF COVALENT BOND

SINGLE BOND
• A single bond is when two electrons--one pair of electrons--are shared between
two atoms. It is depicted by a single line between the two atoms.

DOUBLE BOND
▪ A Double bond is when two atoms share two pairs of electrons with each other. It
is depicted by two horizontal lines between two atoms in a molecule. This type of
bond is much stronger than a single bond, but less stable; this is due to its greater
amount of reactivity compared to a single bond.

TRIPLE BOND
▪ A Triple bond is when three pairs of electrons are shared between two atoms in
a molecule. It is the least stable out of the three general types of covalent bonds.
It is very vulnerable to electron thieves!
▪ EXAMPLE is the acetylene

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