Lesson 4.
Strengths
of Intermolecular Forces
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Learning Competency
At the end of this lesson, the given DepEd learning
competency should be met by the students.
Explain the effect of intermolecular forces on the
properties of substances (S11/12PS-IIId-e-19).
Learning Objective
At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able
to compare the strengths of intermolecular forces.
Sanitizers dry off
quickly, even
without wiping.
How can
compounds with
apparently
similar formulas
and structures
have large
differences in
their properties?
Try it!
Warm-Up
Observing Changes
The rate of any phase change depends on the strength of
the IMFAs present between them.
Procedure Heat the
beakers using
In separate an alcohol
beakers, place lamp and note
10 mL of the time it
water and takes for the
alcohol. two liquids to
evaporate
completely.
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
• Before identifying the IMFA in a molecule, you must
first identify if it is polar or nonpolar.
• Nonpolar molecules only exhibit LDFs.
• Polar molecules exhibit both dipole-dipole interactions
and LDFs.
• Some polar molecules may exhibit hydrogen bonding
as well.
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
• First, identify whether the molecule is polar or nonpolar.
• Diatomic molecules are easier to classify since having a
significant electronegativity difference between the two
atoms will lead to a polar compound.
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
• For polyatomic molecules, the bonds may be polar but
the arrangement of the bonds may cancel all the dipole
moments producing a nonpolar molecule.
• For example, carbon dioxide has two C=O bonds which
are polar bonds since oxygen is more electronegative
than carbon. This means that the dipole moments point
toward the partial negative oxygen atom.
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
• However, the molecular geometry of carbon dioxide is
linear, which means the two oxygens are 180° from one
another. This means that the two dipole moments are
on opposite direction, which can cancel out. This makes
carbon dioxide nonpolar.
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
Arrangement of the bonds in carbon dioxide, CO2
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
• Dipole moments can be treated as vector quantities
having a direction from the partial positive atom to the
partial negative atom.
• If the molecule is nonpolar, the only IMFA it will exhibit
is London dispersion force.
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
• Another example is chloromethane, CH3Cl. The C–H
bonds are nonpolar since the electronegativity
difference between C and H is very small. In contrast,
C–Cl bond is a polar bond having a dipole moment
pointing towards Cl the more electronegative element.
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
Chloromethane, CH3Cl
Learn about It!
Identifying the IMFA in a Molecule
• The polarity of a molecule can be represented by an
electron potential diagram which shows different colors
to indicate the high and low electron densities.
Learn about It!
Comparing the Strengths of IMFA
Use the following strategies in comparing IMFA strengths:
1. Check which molecule exhibits hydrogen bonding. This
molecule will have stronger intermolecular forces.
2. Check which molecule is polar. Polar molecules have
stronger intermolecular forces than nonpolar
molecules.
3. Compare London dispersion forces. More massive
nonpolar molecules have stronger intermolecular
Learn about It!
Comparing the Strengths of IMFA
Comparing the strengths of intermolecular forces between molecules
Key Points
● To determine the IMFA present in a molecule, check first
if it is polar or nonpolar. Individual bonds may appear
polar but if the dipoles cancel, then the whole molecule
is nonpolar and will only exhibit London dispersion
forces.
● When comparing the strengths of similar intermolecular
forces, generally, the molecule with greater molecular
weight (difference >1000) has stronger intermolecular
forces.
Key Points
● Molecules that exhibit hydrogen bonding will have
stronger intermolecular forces.
● Polar molecules usually have stronger intermolecular
forces than nonpolar molecules. A more polar substance
will have stronger dipole-dipole forces compared to a
less polar one.
● Larger and more massive nonpolar molecules usually
have stronger London dispersion forces.
Check Your Understanding
Write the word or words that would best
complete each statement below.
1. A molecule will be nonpolar if all the __________ cancel
out.
2. For molecules with the same IMFA, greater molecular
weight means __________ IMFA.
3. Chloromethane is a __________ molecule.
Bibliography
Bettelheim, Frederick A., et al. 2015. Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry. Boston:
Cengage Learning.
Ebbing, Darrell and Steven Gammon. 2016. General Chemistry. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Moore, John W. and Conrad L. Stanitski. 2015. Chemistry: The Molecular Science, 5th ed. USA:
Cengage Learning.
Reger, Daniel L., et al. 2009. Chemistry: Principles and Practice. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Spencer, James N., et al. 2010. Chemistry: Structure and Dynamics. New Jersey: John Wiley &
Sons.
