Lecture 6

Chemical Bondings II :
Intermolecular Forces
Human Biology and Organic Chemistry I
HS 37-006-31 (41)
Dr. Thomas Lui (thomas81hk@gmail.com)

1. Dipole-dipole interaction
2. Dipole-induced dipole interaction
3. Instantaneous dipole-induced dipole interaction
4. Hydrogen bonding
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Intermolecular vs. Intramolecular Force

Intermolecular force

Intramolecular force

Attractive force between one molecule and a neighboring molecule

Attractive force which hold an individual molecule together

Intermolecular Force

Attractive force between covalent molecules

Much weaker than intramolecular force

Determining the physical properties of the substance, such as the state

of substance, melting and boiling point, viscosity, density, etc.

2 types

Van der Waals force

Hydrogen bonding

Van der Waals Force

Dipole-dipole interaction

The molecules are polar in nature (e.g. H-Cl)

Attraction between + and - of the permanent dipoles of the neighboring
molecules

Van der Waals Force

Dipole-induced dipole interaction

When a non-polar molecule approaches a polar molecule, a dipole will be

induced in the non-polar molecules
Attraction between polar and non-polar molecules
Generally weaker than dipole-dipole interaction

Van der Waals Force

Instantaneous dipole-induced dipole

interaction (also known as dispersion
forces or London forces)

Instantaneous dipole is a temporary

dipole resulted from the fluctuation in
the electron cloud, and this will
induce a dipole moment in the
neighboring atom or molecule
Exists between noble gas and nonpolar molecules and last for very short
time interval
Much weaker than dipole-dipole
interaction

Van der Waals Force

Strength of instantaneous dipole-induced dipole interaction when :

no. of electron in a molecule

Easy to set up instantaneous dipole, as the electrons are weakly held by
nucleus
e.g. Boiling point :
F2
-188 oC
Cl2
-34.7 oC
Br2
58.8 oC
I2
184 oC

surface area
Extension area for contact with other molecules, and a large dipole can
be induced
e.g. Boiling point :
n-pentane (C5H12)
36oC

2,2-dimethylpropane (C5H12)
7

9oC

Hydrogen Bonding

Specific dipole-dipole interaction which occurs when a hydrogen atom

covalently bounded to a highly electronegative atom containing lone pair
electrons (involving N, O and F)

Stronger than dipole-dipole interaction

The attractive force between the lone pair electron of the

electronegative atom and slightly positive charged hydrogen atom in
another molecule

Evidence of Hydrogen Bonding

In general, the boiling points of hydrogen-containing compounds

when moving down the group

in molecular size and van der Waals force

However, for Group 15, 16 and

17, the general trend is broken
by an abnormally high boiling
point of the first member of
each group

These 3 hydrogen-containing
compounds (NH3, H2O and HF)
form intermolecular hydrogen
bonds, which are stronger than
van der Waals force

Examples of Inter- and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding

Intermolecular H-bond

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Intramolecular H-bond

A Comparison between Inter- and Intramolecular Force

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Intermolecular Force in Macromolecules

Stabilizing and Maintaining the Structure
DNA

12

Intermolecular Force in Macromolecules

Stabilizing and Maintaining the Structure
Protein

13

Classwork
Which of the following substances is/are able to form hydrogen bond?
1)

CH3NH2

2)

HBr
O

3)

CH2O
C

4)

CH3OH

5)

CH3Cl
CH3

6)

(CH3N)3N
H3C

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CH3

Reference
1. Bettelheim FA, Brown WH, Campbell MK & Farrell SO (2010). Introduction
to general, organic & biochemistry, 9th edition: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

2. McMurry J, Castellion ME, Ballantine DS, Hoeger CA & Peterson VE (2010).

Fundamentals of general, organic & biological chemistry, 6th edition:
Pearson Prentice Hall.

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