Intermolecular

Forces
Liquids

A. Definition of IMF
Attractive forces between molecules.

Much

weaker than
chemical bonds
within molecules.

van

der Waals forces

Intermolecular Forces of Attraction

(IMF)

Dipole-dipole Forces
Ion- Dipole Forces
Ion/Dipole-Induced Dipole
Dispersion Forces
Hydrogen Bonding

Dipole-Dipole Forces
Attractive forces between polar molecules
(molecules with large EN difference, thus have
dipole moments)

Cl

+
H

Ion-Dipole Forces
Attraction between an ion (anion / cation) & a
polar molecule to each other.

cation

polar molecule

anion

polar molecule

Ion-Induced Dipole & Dipole Induced

Dipole
Induced Dipole- due to the separation of
positive & negative charges in an atom (or a
non-polar molecule) caused by the proximity of
an ion or a polar molecule.

Fluctuating Dipole in a Non-polar Molecule

These instantaneous dipoles may be induced and stabilized as an

ion or a polar molecule approaches the non-polar molecule.

non-polar molecule

+
-

ion

Induced
dipole
non-polar molecule

polar

+
-

Dispersion Forces
Attractive forces that arise as a result of
temporary dipoles induced in atoms or
molecules
Exists in all types of species (neutral, charged,
polar, non-polar)
Dispersion forces are very weak until the
molecules or ions are almost touching each
other, as in the liquid state.

Dispersion Forces

In general, stronger interactions allow the solid

and liquid states to persist to higher
temperatures.

However, non-polar molecules show similar

behavior, indicating that there are some types of
intermolecular interactions that cannot be
attributed to simple electrical attractions. These
interactions are generally called dispersion
forces.

Hydrogen Bonding
Special type of dipoledipole
interaction
between Hydrogen atom
in a polar bond, such as
N-H, O-H or F-H & an
electronegative O, N, or F
atom.

HYDROGEN BONDING
To recognize the possibility of hydrogen bonding,
examine the Lewis structure of the molecule.

The electronegative atom must have one or more

unshared electron pairs as in the case of oxygen
and nitrogen, and has a negative partial charge.
The hydrogen, which has a partial positive charge
tries to find another atom with excess electrons to
share and is attracted to the partial negative
charge.

3. HYDROGEN BONDING
The hydrogen bond is really
a special case of dipole
forces. A hydrogen bond is
the attractive force between
the hydrogen attached to an
electronegative atom of one
molecule and an
electronegative atom of a
different molecule. Usually
the electronegative atom is
oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine.

In other words - The

hydrogen on one molecule
attached to O or N that is
attracted to an O or N of a

Hydrogen Bonds in liquid water

Hydrogen bonds are
much weaker than
covalent bonds.
However, when a large
number of hydrogen
bonds act in unison
they will make a strong
contributory effect.
This is the case in
water.