Intermolecular and Intramolecular Forces

Force Model Basis of Attraction

Energy

Example

(kJ/mol)
No specific value said here I just want to note that these are stronger than intermolecular forces

What holds us together

Ionic Cation-Anion

Opposite charges

4000 400

NaCl

Covalent

Nuclei shared epair This isnt or doesnt seem relevant to this course as of now and therefore it is here but I havent included it. Whats holding these friendly H2O molecules together!

1100 150

H-H

metallic

Electrost atic attractive forces between molecules

Ion-dipole

Ion and polar molecule

600-40

Na+ and H20

Relative strength of ion dipole interactions goes up as charge goes up. These interactions can spur london dispersion forces to occur and propogate a transient dipole to porpogate through a solid or liquid

Ion and polar molecule

600 40

Na+ & H2O

Dipole-dipole

Partial charges of polar molecules

25 5

HCl & HCl

Hydrogen bond
H bonded to N, O, or F donor Acceptor: a) another ion with lone pair(s) b) Atom within another different molecule with a delta charge and a lone pair. c) Possibly a neighboring molecule that is the same as the molecule which contains the donor, water does this.

H bonded to N, O, or F .

40 10

H2O & NH3

London dispersion The weakest of the forces, these interactions occur between all molecules but the extent that they occur to is dependent on, 1) The electron cloud size of the atom or molecule in question the larger the electron cloud, the more shielded the nucleus and therefore the electron distribution is more readily distorted 2) The surface area of the molecules in question, more surface area easier to distort. Induced dipoles ( relates to London dispersion forces) We have this molecule

Induced dipoles of polarizable molecules

40 0.05

Xe & Xe

spherical distribution of electrons non polar

See London dispersion for further explanatio ns

This is what the induced dipole will look like similar to dipole- dipole interactions, but different as these dipoles are transient and are weak. The

temporary dipoles propagate through the liquid or solid as one charged particle distorts the electron distribution usually in a non-polar molecule or atom, as in these atoms or molecules the largest electrostatic attraction is usually dispersion forces.

Final notes; Many molecules interactions occur together, like hydrogen bonding is present with dipole dipole interactions or ion dipole interactions, London dispersions forces are always present but might not be the most influencing or driving force between the molecules in question. Also realize the intramolecular forces > stronger than > intermolecular forces These intermolecular forces are simply between molecules and while they can be strong they are not the strength within bonds, these attractive forces that make up the molecule and lie between the atoms are intramolecular forces. Think of it this way, when dealing with intermolecular forces we are usually dealing with at least one partial charge interacting with another partial charge or as in ion-dipole maybe an ion. These partial charges can be strong such as in hydrogen bonding and dipole dipole interactions but they can also be weak such as in the London dispersion attractive forces, the take away, intermolecular forces while important wouldnt be stronger than a bond between two atoms like a covalent bond, or the fixed charges such as a + or charge(s) on a cation anion interaction.