Unit 1: Intermolecular Forces of Attraction and Solids and Liquids 

1.3. Properties of Liquids   
 
Warm Up 
1. The  cardboard/laminated  paper  stays  covering  the  glass  and  the  water  does  not 
spill out. 
2. The water remains in the jar.  
3. The  surface  of  a  liquid  behaves  as  if  it  has  a  thin  membrane  stretched  over  it.  A 
force  called  cohesion,  which  is  the  attraction  of  similar  molecules  to  each  other, 
causes this effect. 
 
Knowledge Check Question 
1. Why do water droplets that condense from fog appear spherical? 
The  IMFA  present  between  water  molecules  are  strong  at  low  temperatures.  Fogs 
occur  during  cold  nights  and  mornings.  As  a  consequence  of  strong  IMFA,  water 
droplets assume a spherical shape as it resists increase in surface area. 
 
Check Your Understanding 
 

A. Identify  the  terms  described  in  each  of  the  following 

 
items. 
 

vapor pressure   1.  It  is  the  term  used  to  refer  to  the  pressure  exerted  by  a 
vapor in equilibrium with a liquid. 

liquid  2.  It is a state of matter that occupies the same shape as its 
container and occupies the exact volume. 

solubility    3.  This term refers to the ability of a substance to dissolve 

in a given amount of solvent at a specified temperature. 

boiling point  4.  Property of liquid refers to the temperature at which a 

substance changes from liquid to gas. 

 
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Unit 1: Intermolecular Forces of Attraction and Solids and Liquids 

viscosity   5.  It is the measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. 

surface tension   6.  It is the tendency of a liquid to acquire the least possible 
surface area. 

hydrophobic  7.  These are molecules or regions in a molecule that repel 

water. 

solid  8.  It is state of matter that has a definite shape. 

soap   9.  These are composed of large molecules that contain 

both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. 

hydrophilic   10.  These are molecules or regions in a molecule that are 

attracted to water. 

B. Write  T  if  the  following  statement  is  true.  Otherwise, 

write F. 
 

F  1.  If a liquid has strong IMFA hey have low surface tensions  

F  2.  For liquids, viscosity decreases with decreasing temperature. 

T  3.  Miscible liquids are molecules that mix together. 

F  4.  Gas particles are tightly packed, which gives them a definite shape. 

T  5.  If A has weaker IMFA than B, therefore, the vapor pressure of A is 
higher than B. 
 

C. Solve  the  following  problems.  Show  the  complete 

 
solution in your notebook. 

Rank  the  compounds  (being  1  the  highest)  based  on  the   

 
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Unit 1: Intermolecular Forces of Attraction and Solids and Liquids 

properties provided below. 
CH3CH2OCH3, CH3CH2CH2NH2, CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2, 
CH3CH2CH2CH3 

1. 3-2-1-4  
2. 3-2-1-4 
3. 2-3-4-1  
4. 2-3-4-1 
5. 3-2-1-4 
 
Challenge Yourself 
 

Answer the following questions.    

1. Why  do  surface  tension  and  viscosity  decrease  with  temperature,  whereas  vapor 
pressure  increases  with  temperature?  Take  note:  Surface  tension,  viscosity,  and 
vapor pressure are all related to intermolecular forces. 
When  temperature  increases,  molecular  momentum  transfer  between  the 
molecules  increases  as  their  kinetic  energy  increases.  The  molecules  have  more 
energy,  and it becomes easier to overcome the IMFA. Thus in net effect, the viscosity 
and  surface  tension  of  liquid  decreases  with  an  increase  in  temperature.  On  the 
other  hand,  as  the  temperature  of  liquid  increases,  the  kinetic  energy  of  its 
molecules  also  increases.  As  the  kinetic  energy  of  the  molecules  increases,  the 
number  of  molecules  transitioning  into  a  vapor  also  increases,  thereby  increasing 
the vapor pressure.  
 
2. Explain how the interrelation of IMFA, vapor pressure, and boiling point. 
Substances  with  stronger  IMFA  have  lower  vapor  pressure  because  it  is  difficult  for 
the molecules to escape into the gaseous phase. Thus, the molecules will need more 
energy  before  its  vapor  pressure  equals  atmospheric  pressure. This means that the 
boiling point of the compound will be higher. 
 
3. Arrange  the  following substances in order of decreasing surface tension and explain 

 
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Unit 1: Intermolecular Forces of Attraction and Solids and Liquids 

your answer. 
  CH3CH3 CH4 CH3CH2OH 
 
CH3CH2OH  >  CH3CH3  >  CH4  because  CH3CH2OH  has  hydrogen  bonding,  so  it has the 
highest  surface  tension.  CH3CH3  and  CH4  both  only  have  LDF,  but  CH3CH3  has more 
electrons  than  CH4  so  it  will  have  stronger  LDF.  Thus,  it  will  have  higher  surface 
tension than CH4. 
 
 

 
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