Identifying Intermolecular Forces

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Physical Chemistry › Identifying Intermolecular Forces

Questions 1 - 2
1

Which of the following forces is considered the weakest?

London dispersion forces

Hydrogen bonding

Dipole-dipole interactions

Ionic bonding

Explanation

The intermolecular forces from strongest to weakest are ionic, hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, then London dispersion forces. All compounds experience some form of London dispersion force, but the force only becomes relevant if no other forces are contributing to the attraction of molecules or atoms.

2

Which intermolecular force will be the most powerful in a sample of ethanol

Hydrogen bonding

Dipole-dipole interactions

Ionic bonding

London dispersion forces

Explanation

Ethanol will not form ions in solution, so we are left with the other three options as plausible answers. Of the three, the strongest force is hydrogen bonding, which only occurs if a hydrogen is directly attached to a nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine in the molecule. Ethanol has a hydrogen attached to an oxygen, and is thus capable of hydrogen bonding.

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