Example 1: Explain why methane, CH4, has a lower boiling point than ammonia, NH3.

Sample answer: Both CH4 and NH3 have simple molecular structures. A greater amount of energy is required to overcome the stronger hydrogen bonding between NH3 molecules than the weak instantaneous dipole-induced dipole interactions between CH4 molecules. Example 2: Explain why HF has a higher boiling point than NH3. Sample answer: Both HF and NH3 have simple molecular structures with molecules held together by hydrogen bonding. The strength of hydrogen bonding between HF molecules is stronger than that between NH3 molecules since the difference in electronegativities of the atoms in HF bond is greater than that in HN bond. Example 3: Explain why H2O has a higher boiling point than NH3. Sample answer: Both H2O and NH3 have simple molecular structures with molecules held together by hydrogen bonding. The extent of hydrogen bonding between H2O molecules is greater than that that between NH3 molecules. More energy is required to overcome the stronger hydrogen bonding between H2O molecules. Example 4: Explain why H2S has a higher boiling point than PH3. Sample answer: Both H2S and PH3 have simple molecular structures with molecules held together by permanent dipole-permanent dipole (pd-pd) interactions. S has a greater electronegativity than P. As a result, the pd-pd interactions between H2S molecules are stronger than those between PH3 molecules and require a greater amount of energy to overcome. Example 5: Explain why SiH4 has a higher boiling point than CH4. Sample answer: Both SiH4 and CH4 have simple molecular structures with molecules held together by instantaneous dipole-induced dipole (id-id) interactions. SiH4 molecules have a greater number of electrons than CH4 molecules. As a result, the id-id interactions between SiH4 molecules are stronger than those between CH4 molecules and require a greater amount of energy to overcome. Example 6: Explain why isomer A has a lower boiling point than isomer B.

Sample answer: Isomer B has a larger surface area of contact for setting up instantaneous dipoleinduced dipole (id-id) interactions between its molecules, compared to isomer A. Example 7: Explain why the boiling points of HCl , HBr and HI increase in the stated order . Sample answer: HCl, HBr and HI have simple molecular structures with molecules held together by permanent dipole-permanent dipole (pd-pd) interactions and instantaneous dipole-induced dipole (id-id) interactions. Number of electrons in each molecule: HCl < HBr < HI So, strength of id-id interactions between molecules: HCl < HBr < HI The increasing trend in id-id interactions between the molecules is more significant in explaining the observed trend in boiling points. H2 Chemistry 9647 Lee Yong Kiang Justin 4 2012/13

Example 8: Explain why NH3 is soluble in water Sample answer: NH3 molecules are able to form hydrogen bonding with H2O molecules. Example 9: Suggest why CH4 is poorly soluble in water. Sample answer: The interactions between CH4 and H2O molecules do not release sufficient energy to overcome hydrogen bonding between H2O molecules. Example 10: Account for the decreasing solubilities of the alcohol CnH2n+1OH in water with increasing n. Sample answer: CnH2n+1OH molecules are able to form hydrogen bonding with water molecules. Between CnH2n+1OH molecules, hydrogen bonding occurs between the OH groups and instantaneous dipole-induced dipole (id-id) interactions occurs between the CnH2n+1 groups. As n increases, the strength of id-id interactions between the CnH2n+1 groups increases since there is an increase in the number of electrons in the molecule. This results in the hydrogen bonding between molecules of CnH2n+1OH and water molecules becoming less able to overcome the net intermolecular forces between CnH2n+1OH molecules.