CHEMISTRY YEAR 12 Class activity sheet-12 (Introduction to IMFs)

Lesson objectives:
By the end of this lesson, at least 70% of the learners should be able to:
 Define intermolecular force and name the different types.
 Define and explain van der waals forces including factors affecting the strength of van der waals forces

ACTIVITY A: (Recap of previous lesson):

(a) State some of the things that you can remember about the last lesson.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Given the following electronegativities: F = 4, Cl = 3, Br = 2.8 and I = 2.5
(i) Which atom in the molecule in Br – I carries the partial positive charge (δ+).
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) Which of the following bonds Cl – F or Cl – Br is more polar.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) The structure of carbon dioxide is O = C = O. Explain why:
(i) each C = O bond in carbon dioxide is polar.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) carbon dioxide molecule is non-polar.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d)
ACTIVITY B: (Prompt for prior knowledge):

What do you known about intermolecular force?

Intermolecular forces (IMFs).

- Covalent bonds between atoms in a molecule are strong but forces between molecules of a given
substance called intermolecular forces are weak .
- Intermolecular forces are attractive forces between molecules or noble gas atoms. Three
types of IMFs are van der waals forces, dipole-dipole & hydrogen bonds.
- Definition: An Intermolecular force is a weak electrostatic force of attraction that hold
molecules of a substance together.
- Knowledge of electronegativity and bond polarity facilitate the understanding of
intermolecular forces.

ACTIVITY 01:
(a) What name is given to the force of attraction between two bromine atoms in a molecule of
bromine? …………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) How does a bromine atom create an attractive force with another bromine atom in the
same molecule? ……………………………………………………………………………..
(c) What general name is given to the force of attraction between bromine molecules in a
liquid bromine? ……………………………………………………………………………...
(d) Amongst the two forces mentioned in (a) and (c) above, which is stronger?
…………………………………………………………………………….............................

YR 12 act sht 12 (Introduction to IMFs) Page 1 of 4

 Types of Intermolecular forces (IMFs).

(i) Van der waals forces.

 At a given moment in a molecule or atom, the electron cloud may not be evenly
distributed all over the molecule due constant movement of the electron cloud in the
molecule or atom.
 A temporary dipole on the non-polar molecule or atom is set up.
 The temporary dipole set up can induce a dipole on neighbouring molecules or atoms
that approach it.
 The attraction between the partially positive charged (δ+) end in one molecule and the
partially negative charged (δ-) end of the temporary dipole in another molecule or
atom is called van der Waals forces.
 Van der waals forces are also called temporary dipole induced dipole forces or
London dispersion forces.
 Consider two bromine (Br2) molecules and two argon (Ar) atoms below.

δ+ δ- δ+ δ- δ+ --- δ+ δ+ --- δ+
Br – Br Br – Br -- --
Covalent van der waals van der waals
bond forces forces
δ+
δ+
Br – Brδ- δ+
Br – Brδ- δ+
Br – Brδ- Ar δ- δ+
Ar δ- δ+
Ar δ- δ+
Ar δ-

The temporary dipole lasts for a very short time as the electrons are in continuous motion and moving
fast. Temporary dipole (in a non-polar molecule) or permanent dipole (in a polar molecule) can induce
polarity in a non polar molecule by:
- attracting electron cloud in non-polar molecule using its positive end
- repelling electron cloud in non-polar molecule using its negative end

ACTIVITY 02: Draw a labelled diagram to show bonding between two chlorine molecules in
a jar of chlorine gas.

ACTIVITY 03: The molecule Cl – I is polar.

(a) Why is the molecule polar? Draw a diagram to show the distribution of partial charges (δ+
and δ-) on the molecule. ……………..……………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) How can the molecule Cl – I polarise (induce polarity on) a non-polar molecule such as
bromine (Br – Br)? ………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….

- Definition: Van der waals forces are weak electrostatic forces of attraction between
temporary dipoles of molecules or atoms of a noble gas .

Factors affecting the strength of van der waals forces.

- The strength of the van der Waals forces in between molecules depends on two factors :
(I) the number of electrons in the molecule:

The larger the negative charge electron cloud (and protons) in a molecule, the stronger the van
der waals forces.
YR 12 act sht 12 (Introduction to IMFs) Page 2 of 4
 ACTIVITY 04: Given the table below.
Substance Ne Ar CH3CH2CH3 CH3CH2CH2CH3
Number of electrons 10 18 26 34
(a) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of neon (Ne) and argon (Ar).
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of propane (CH3CH2CH3) and argon (Ar).
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of propane (CH3CH2CH3) and butane
(CH3CH2CH2CH3). …………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(II) The number of contact points:
- The greater the number of contact points (surface area in contact) between molecules, the stronger
the van der waals forces.
ACTIVITY 05: Given liquids L1, L2, L3 and L4 represented by the diagrams below.
2 molecules of L1, 2molecules of L2, 2 molecules of L3 2 molecules of L4

(a) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of liquids L1 and L2.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of liquids L1 and L3.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of liquids L1 and L4.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of liquids L2 and L3.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(e) Arrange the liquids L1 to L4 in order of increasing boiling points. ……………………………..

- All molecules have van der waals forces for the following reasons:
 Every molecule has electron cloud.
 Every molecule has contact points.
Where van der waals forces are found:
- Between atoms of noble gases e.g. helium, neon, argon etc.
- Between non-polar molecules e.g. molecules e.g. CO2, molecules of halogens such as F2, Cl2, Br2 etc.
- Between hydrocarbon molecules, CH4, C2H4, C2H2, C6H6 etc.

ACTIVITY 06: Given the table below and the structures of the molecules on the table.
Substance C2H6 C3H8 C(CH3)4 (CH3)2CHCH2CH3 CH3(CH2)3CH3
No of electrons 18 26 42 42 42

Molecular formula: C2H6 = CH3CH3, C3H8 = CH3CH2CH3

YR 12 act sht 12 (Introduction to IMFs) Page 3 of 4

 (a) Use a ruler to measure the length of CH3CH3 and CH3CH2CH3.
Length of CH3CH3. ………………………………………………………………………….
Length of CH3CH2CH3. ……………………………………………………………………..
(b) From the lengths, compare the boiling points of CH 3CH3 and CH3CH2CH3 and suggest a
reason. ………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of n-pentane and 2-methylbutane using
their structures given above.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Compare with an explanation the boiling points of 2,2-dimethylpropane and
2-methylbutane using their structures given above.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

ASSIGNMENT 01: Argon and ethane are isoelectronic. Argon has a boiling point of 87K while
ethane has a boiling point of 185K.
(a) How many electrons are there in a molecule of ethane?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) How many electrons are there in an atom of argon (Ar)?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) What do you understand by the term isoelectronic?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Explain the difference in the boiling points of argon and ethane.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

ASSIGNMENT 02: Explain why all the molecules O2, H2O, HCl, CO2 etc have van der waals
forces even though van der waals forces may not be the main type of intermolecular force in some
of the molecules.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
ASSIGNMENT 03: Circle the molecules below which have van der waals forces as the main
intermolecular force between their molecules.

O = O, C ≡ O, F – F, Br – Cl, C10H22, C10H8

H–I CH3OH CH3Cl I–I Cl – Be – Cl N=O

YR 12 act sht 12 (Introduction to IMFs) Page 4 of 4