Al Mawakeb Al Barsha

Science Department 2023-2024

Name: _______________________________ Grade 11 ____

Chemistry
Intermolecular Forces

Two elements can bond together either as covalent bond (sharing electrons) or
by ionic bond (losing and gaining electrons). There are two types of covalent
bonds:
a- Polar covalent bond
b- Non-polar covalent bond

a- Polar covalent bond: is when the sharing of electrons take place between
two elements in which the electrons are shared unequally, (that have
difference in electro-negativity between 0.5 – 1.5 or 1.6 – 2 when the elements
are two non-metals).
The one with higher electro-negativity attracts more strongly and gains slightly
negative charge and is called partially negative. The one with less electro-
negativity less attracts the electrons and gains positive charge and is called
partially positive.
Al Mawakeb Al Barsha
Science Department 2023-2024

In case of H2O, the electro-negativity of oxygen is more than that of hydrogen,

so oxygen is considered to be partially negative and partially positive.

The symbol of partially

negative and partially
positive is as follows:

Partially positive Partially negative

b- Non-polar covalent bond: When two atoms equally share an electrons,

(that have difference in electro-negativity 0 – 0.4). Diatomic molecules all are
considered non-polar molecules.

The below table shows when the compound will be non-polar, polar, or ionic
compound.
Al Mawakeb Al Barsha
Science Department 2023-2024

Intermolecular forces are the electrostatic interaction between molecules.

Atoms interact in covalent and ionic bond between each other in molecules,
but molecules also play a role in interaction between each other. There are
four types of intermolecular forces:
a- Ion – Ion interaction: it is the strongest intermolecular forces because it
is between two formal charges, and it forms the solid ionic compounds.
For example, salt molecule is formed by bonding between Na1+ and Cl1-
where both have formal charges.

The given image represents the lattice structure of

sodium chloride. The green circles represent Chloride
ions and purple circles represent sodium ions. The
interaction between salt molecules made this lattice
structure.
Since the interaction between molecules with formal
charges then it is called ion – ion interaction

b- Ion – dipole interaction:

The bonds in water molecules are polar covalent bonds where we have the
partial negative oxygen element (negative dipole) and the partial positive
hydrogen elements forming (positive diploe).
So when sodium chloride dissolves in water and forms sodium ion Na 1+ and
chloride ion Cl1-, the sodium ion is attracted toward the negative dipole and
the chloride ion is attracted toward the positive dipole forming an ion – dipole
interaction which helps the salt molecule to dissociate in the water molecule.
Each ion can make several dipole interactions.
Al Mawakeb Al Barsha
Science Department 2023-2024

c- Dipole – Dipole Interaction:

It is an interaction between the negative dipole and the positive dipole in two
different molecules.
The interaction between water molecule with sugar molecule which is also
polar covalent makes the sugar dissolves. Since it is between two polar
molecules then it is called Dipole-Dipole interaction.
This interaction is sometimes called hydrogen bond when the dipole – dipole
interaction includes hydrogen element with either nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine
elements which are the highest electronegative elements which make the
strongest dipole – dipole interaction.
It is true that hydrogen bond is part of dipole – dipole interaction, but it is
stronger than the normal dipole – dipole interaction
Al Mawakeb Al Barsha
Science Department 2023-2024

d- Van der Waals or London Dispersion Forces:

Only formal charges can form ion – ion interaction, and any molecules with
dipoles can make dipole – dipole interaction but almost all atoms can do Van
Der Waals interaction.
For example, helium element has a full valence as shown in the below
diagram, that is why it doesn’t react with other element.

But the electron can be in some cases saturate more in one side of the cloud
forming a momentary dipole case, which is much weaker than formal dipole. It
also takes place for very short time.

As you can see in the above two diagrams the element temporary contains
both positive and negative dipoles. When this element with its temporary
dipole moves close to another element it will form an induced dipole, where
the slight negative dipole will form an induced positive dipole on the
neighborhood element where a force is formed between them which we call the
Van Der Waals Force.
Al Mawakeb Al Barsha
Science Department 2023-2024

So the molecular interaction forces are arranged in decreasing order as follow:

1- Ion – Ion Interaction
2- Ion – Dipole Interaction
3- A- Hydrogen Bond
B- Dipole – Dipole Interaction
4- Van Der Waals Interaction

These intermolecular forces effect on the boiling and melting point of

molecules. To study the effect of intermolecular forces on these physical
properties consider helium, water and sodium chloride molecules at absolute
zero which is the lowest temperature we the three molecules will be in the
solid state. To change the state, the heat absorbed should take over the
intermolecular forces first. For example, to change water which is in liquid
state to gas state as water vapor, the amount of energy needed should be more
than the intermolecular forces inside water which is the Dipole – Dipole force
to break them and move water to gas state.
Helium contains Van Der Waals interaction
Water contains Dipole – Dipole interaction
Sodium Chloride contains Ion – Ion interaction

Helium needs small amount of energy to overtake the intermolecular force

inside it, where it melts at 1°K over absolute zero. Water will need more energy
to overtake the intermolecular force inside it where it melts at 273°K and boils
at 373°K. On the other hand, sodium chloride needs the most energy to
overtake the intermolecular forces inside it where it melts at 1074°K.
In conclusion, the stronger the intermolecular forces the higher the boiling
and melting point.

Note: All type of intermolecular forces include London Dispersion

Al Mawakeb Al Barsha
Science Department 2023-2024

Non-polar Covalent Compounds can form only: Van Der Waals Interaction.
In polar covalent compounds we have to check the geometry first to see if
there is an overall dipole.
For example, carbon dioxide and water molecule

Water molecule Carbon dioxide molecule

Water has dipole while carbon dioxide doesn’t have. It’s true that carbon-
oxygen bond is polar covalent bond, but the direction of the two polar bonds
will cancel the effect of each other, thus carbon dioxide contains Van Der
Waals interactions only. While water has Dipole-Dipole Interaction also.