Free Response questions for Surface Tension and intermolecular forces.

1. Stearic acid, C18H36O2, is a primary component of animal fat, which is solid at room temperature.
Oleic acid, C18H34O2, is a component of olive oil, which is liquid at room temperature. What
intermolecular forces account for these observations? (you should include structures)

Comparing the two acids IMFs to each other, Stearic acid will have stronger IMFs because of its state
of matter which is solid compared to the liquid Oleic acid. Since it is solid, its molecules are more
tightly packed with one another rather than a liquid who's molecules are still closely packed where it
doesn't become a gas, but it isn't as closely packed as a solid. Another way of saying how closely
packed these are the strength of the IMFs and the stronger they are the more closely packed a
molecule will be. The Stearic acid also has more oxygen atoms which allows its IMFs to be stronger
by having more chances at polarizing that Oleic acid does.

2. Explain why 1-Butanol would be expected to have a higher boiling temperature than 1-propanol.
Include formulas and structures.

While both substances have very similar formulas with butanols being C4H10O and propanols being C3H8O, the
molecule itself for butanol is longer which allows it to have more opportunity to have a charge imbalance and also
more opportunity for attraction other molecules. So because of this the attraction between the molecules is stronger
causing it to need a higher boiling point to break them apart
3. Answer the following questions using principles of molecular structure and intermolecular forces.

Empirical Solubility Boiling Point

Compound
Formula in Water ( qC)
1 C2H6O Slightly soluble -24
2 C2H6O Soluble 78

Compounds 1 and 2 in the data table above have the same empirical formula, but they have
different physical properties.
(a) The skeletal structure for one of the two compounds is shown below in Box X.
(i) Complete the Lewis electron-dot diagram of the molecule in Box X. Include any lone
(nonbonding)
pairs of electrons.

H H

H C O C H

H H

Box X Box Y

(ii) In Box Y above, draw the complete Lewis electron-dot diagram for the other compound,
which is a structural isomer of the compound represented in Box X. Include any lone
(nonbonding) pairs of electrons.

(b) On the basis of the complete Lewis electron-dot diagrams you drew in part (a) and the
information in the data table above, identify which compound, 1 or 2, has the structure
represented in Box X. Justify your answer in terms of the intermolecular forces present in each
compound.
Compound 2, is polar becasue of the imbalance and asymmetric charges of
it which cause it to have a stronger set of IMFs that the substance in Box
Y
Use the information in the following table to answer parts (c) and (d).

Lewis Electron-Dot Boiling Point Vapor Pressure at 20qC

Name (mm Hg)
Diagram (qC)

Dichloromethane 39.6 353

Carbon tetrachloride 76.7 89

(c) Dichloromethane has a greater solubility in water than carbon tetrachloride has. Account for this
observation in terms of the intermolecular forces between each of the solutes and water.

CH2Cl2 is polar, whereas CCl4 is not. Therefore, CH2Cl2 interacts with H2O via dipole-dipole forces,
while CCl4 only interacts with water via dipole/induced dipole forces or LDFs, which would be weaker. As
a result, CH2Cl2 has a greater solubility.

(d) In terms of intermolecular forces, explain why dichloromethane has a higher vapor pressure
than carbon tetrachloride.

The combination of LDFs and dipole-dipole forces in CH2Cl2 must be weaker overall
that the strong LDFs in CCl4
 (e) The complete Lewis electron-dot diagram of methanal (formaldehyde) is shown in the box below.
Molecules of methanal can form hydrogen bonds with water. In the box below, draw a water
molecule in a correct orientation to illustrate a hydrogen bond between a molecule of water and the
molecule of methanal. Use a dashed line to represent the hydrogen bond.

7. Use appropriate chemical principles to account for the following observations. In each account your response
must include specific information about both substances:
(a) At 25°C and 1 atm, F2 is a gas whereas I2 is a solid.

Both F2 and I2 are nonpolar, so the only intermolecular attractive forces are London dispersion forces. I2 is
solid because the electrons in the I2 molecule occupy a larger volume and are more polarizable compared to
the electrons in the F2 molecule. As a result, the dispersion forces are considerably stronger in I2 compared
to F2.

(b) The melting point of NaF is 993°C, whereas the melting point of CsCl is 645°C.

Melting point is determined by many factors but the key factor is the strength
of the IMFs and the stronger the IMFs are the tighter the molecules are
packed within the substance causing it to need more energy to melt. So
judging by that NaF has stronger IMFs that CsCl causing it to have a higher
melting point.
(c) The shape of ICl4- ion is square planar, whereas the shape of BF4- ion is tetrahedral.

The ICl4- ion has 4 atoms bonded to the central I atom and 2
lone pairs which push equal force or either side of the I atom
causing all the atoms to line up in a flat square shape. The BF4-
ion has no lone pairs on its central atom of B which makes the
main cause of repelling the outer atoms so they all equally push
each other into a 3D shape which is called tetrahedral.

(d) Ammonia, NH3, is very soluble in water, whereas PH3 is only moderately soluble in water.

Ammonia has hydrogen-bonding intermolecular forces, whereas

phosphine has dipole-dipole and/or dispersion intermolecular
forces. Water also has hydrogen-bonding intermolecular attractive
forces. Ammonia is more soluble in water than phosphine because
ammonia molecules can hydrogen-bond with water molecules,
whereas phosphine molecules cannot hydrogen-bond with water
molecules.