POLARITY OF MOLECULES
AND ITS PROPERTIES
o intermolecular forces of attraction (IMFA) which exists between molecules
o there are several types of IMFA and their relative strength as compared to
other types.
o Strong intermolecular forces tend to yield solids and liquids while weak
intermolecular forces favor formation of gases.
o Melting point (physical properties of matter) increases as IMFA increases
IMFA identifies the other physical properties of matter. Some of these are
the following:
Boiling point: temperature at which the vapor pressure and atmospheric
pressure of a liquid substance are equal.
Melting point: temperature at which solid becomes liquid. At this point, the solid
and liquid phases exist in equilibrium.
Surface tension: energy needed to increase the surface area by a unit amount;
Viscosity: the resistance of the liquid to flow
Vapor pressure: pressure exerted by a substance in its gaseous state.
Volatility: measures the rate at which a substance vaporizes (changes from
liquid to gas)
Table 2. General Properties of polar and nonpolar molecule
Melting point
Stronger IMFA means greater
Temperature at which the substance changes from solid to liquid amount of energy is needed to
break the attractive forces
between molecules
Substances with strong IMFA
have higher melting points
compared to those with weak
IMFA
Ex. Melting sugar and salt
Sugar melts faster since it has
weaker IMFA compared to
salt
Boiling Point
Temperature at which the substance changes from liquid to gas
Stronger IMFA means greater
amount of energy is needed to break
the attractive forces between
molecules
Substances with stronger IMFA
have higher boiling points
compared to those with weaker
IMFA
Example
Water and oil under the sun
Which will evaporate
first?
Water has high IMFA
compared to oil
Surface tension
The tendency of a fluid to acquire the least possible surface area
Molecules with stronger IMFA
will exert greater cohesive forces
and acquire less surface area or
higher surface tension than those
with weaker IMFA
Example
The paper clip will float
because of high surface
tension of water molecules
Viscosity
The measure of the fluids resistance to flow
Molecules with stronger
IMFA Have greater
resistance to flow and
thus, higher viscosity
compared to those with
weaker IMFA
Example
Oil has higher resistance to flow than
water
Vapor pressure
The pressure exerted by a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid phase in a closed system
Molecules with strong IMFA
have less tendency to escape as
gas and thus lower vapor
pressure compared to those
with weaker IMFA
How to compare strengths of intermolecular
forces?
Check the difference in molecular weight
The molecule with greater molecular weight has stronger IMFA
How to compare strengths of intermolecular
forces?
1.Check which molecules exhibit hydrogen bonding
2.Check which molecule is polar
3.Compare London Dispersion Forces
Ex.
Which is most likely solid? F2 or I2?
Both Nonpolar molecules Iodine is solid and
Fluorine is gas at
Both exhibit London Dispersion forces room temperature
Iodine has higher molecular mass, it
has strong London dispersion forces
molar mass/ molecular weight / molecular mass
MOLAR MASS = mass of 1 mole of a substance
Unit – g/mol
