TEXT OF REPORT

IN
GENERAL CHEMISTRY Ⅱ

PROPERTIES OF LIQUID
AND
INTERMOLECULAR FORCES

KEVIN CURT B. MASEDMAN

STEM 12 PYTHAGORAS

First Semester
9/7/2022
The goal by the end of this lesson is to be able to describe the properties of liquid and explain
the effect of intermolecular forces on these properties: surface tension, viscosity, vapor
pressure, boiling point, and molar heat of vaporization..

 SURFACE TENSION
Surface tension is the force that causes the surface of a liquid to contract. It is the
property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to the cohesive
nature of its molecules.

The strength of surface tension depends on the intermolecular force of attraction. If

the intermolecular force of attraction of a liquid is strong, then there is a greater force needed
to break through the surface. Since the intermolecular forces vary in nature and strength ,
surface tension is different for different forms of liquids.
Temperature affects surface tension, an increase in the liquids temperature causes
water molecules at the surface to evaporate resulting to the weakening of the force of
attraction. Therefore, there is less force needed to break through the surface of the molecules,
this decreases the surface tension.

Molecules within a liquid are pulled in all directions by intermolecular forces.

Molecules at the surface are pulled downward and sideways by other molecules,
 These intermolecular forces tend to pull the molecules into the liquid and causes the
surface to tighten like and elastic film or “skin”. (Example figure can be seen at page 32 of
the LAS)

Capillary action is the tendency of a liquid to rise in a narrow tubes or be

drawn into small openings such as those between grains of a rock.

Two types of forces are involved in capillary action:

Cohesion is the intermolecular attraction between like molecules ( the liquid

molecules)

Adhesion is an attraction between unlike molecules (such as those in water and in the
particles that make up the glass)

 VISCOSITY
Viscosity is the resistance of fluids to flow. A liquids resistance (friction) to flow
exists between the molecules of liquid when they move past each other. The greater the
resistance in flowing, the more viscous the liquid is.

An increase in the temperature causes kinetic energy to increase. Heat breaks the
intermolecular forces causing the liquid molecules to move faster.this makes the molecules
flow more readily. Therefore, an increase in temperature decreases viscosity.

Viscosity is expressed in units of centipoise. The table on page 34 of the LAS gives
viscosities of liquids of some pure substances.

 MOLAR HEAT OF VAPORIZATION

The molar heat of vaporization (▲Hvap) is the energy required to vaporize 1 mole of
a liquid at a given temperature. H is the symbol for enthalpy, which means heat content at a
given standard condition.

(Molar heat vaporization and boiling points of selected substances table at page 37 in LAS)

The heat of vaporization may be considered a measure of strength of intermolecular

forces in a liquid. If the intermolecular attraction is strong, it takes a lot of energy to free the
molecules from the liquid phase and the heat vaporization will be high.

 BOILING POINT
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the liquid converts into a gas.

The normal boiling point of water is 100℃. The boiling point of liquid depends on
the external pressure.
The boiling point is related to molar heat of vaporization: the higher the ▲Hvap, the
higher the boiling point.
 VAPOR PRESSURE
The pressure exerted by the gas in equilibrium with a solid or liquid in a closed
container at a given temperature is called the vapor pressure.
Vapor is used to refer to the gaseous state of a substance which is normally a liquid or
solid at room temperature.

REFERENCES
https://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/liquids/vpress.html