Intermolecular Forces
Definition
These are the forces that occur between molecules. They're weaker than intramolecular forces but still crucial for determining properties like boiling and melting points.
Analogy
If you think about a group of people (representing molecules) at a party, intermolecular forces would be like the casual conversations and interactions happening between different individuals. They don't bind people together as tightly as family ties (intramolecular forces), but they still influence how everyone behaves at the party.
Related terms
London Dispersion Forces: These are weak intermolecular attractions resulting from instantaneous changes in electron density in a molecule.
Dipole-Dipole Interactions: These occur when polar molecules align such that positive and negative ends line up with each other.
Hydrogen Bonds: A special type of dipole-dipole interaction involving hydrogen atom bonded to highly electronegative elements like oxygen or nitrogen.
"Intermolecular Forces" appears in:
Study guides (5)
Practice Questions (3)
- Which of the following intermolecular forces is strongest?
- What type of intermolecular forces does water have?
- What are the four main types of intermolecular forces?
Resources
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