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Inter & Intramolecular Forces (CIE A Level Chemistry)

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Comparing Bonds & Intermolecular Forces

Intramolecular forces

  • Intramolecular forces are forces within a molecule
  • Ionic bonding is the electrostatic attraction between positive (cations) and negative (anions) ions in an ionic crystal lattice
    • These ions are formed by transferring the electrons from one species to the other

  • Covalent bonds are formed when the outer electrons of two atoms are shared
  • Metallic bonding is the electrostatic attraction of positively charged metal ions and their delocalised electrons in a metal lattice

Intramolecular forces

Chemical Bonding Intramolecular Forces, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

The three types of intramolecular forces are ionic, covalent and metallic bonding

Intermolecular forces

  • Intermolecular forces are forces between molecules and are also called van der Waals’ forces
  • Permanent dipole - permanent dipole are the attractive forces between two neighbouring molecules with a permanent dipole
  • Hydrogen bonds are a special type of permanent dipole - permanent dipole forces
  • Instantaneous dipole - induced dipole (London dispersion) forces are the attractive forces between a temporary dipole and a neighbouring molecule with an induced dipole

Permanent dipoles as intermolecular forces

Chemical Bonding Intermolecular Forces (1), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Permanent dipole - permanent dipole are the intermolecular forces that occur between two neighbouring molecules with a permanent dipole

Instantaneous dipoles as intermolecular forces

Chemical Bonding Intermolecular Forces (2), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Instantaneous dipole - induced dipole (London dispersion) forces are the intermolecular forces that occur between a temporary dipole and a neighbouring molecule with an induced dipole

 

Hydrogen bonding as an intermolecular force

Chemical Bonding Intermolecular Forces (3), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Hydrogen bonds are a special type of permanent dipole - permanent dipole forces

  • In general, intramolecular forces are stronger than intermolecular forces
  • The strengths of the types of bond or force are as follows:

The varying strengths of different types of bonds

1-5-3-types-of-forces-between-molecules-new

In general, ionic bonding is the strongest force while instantaneous dipole - induced dipole is the weakest force

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Richard

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Richard has taught Chemistry for over 15 years as well as working as a science tutor, examiner, content creator and author. He wasn’t the greatest at exams and only discovered how to revise in his final year at university. That knowledge made him want to help students learn how to revise, challenge them to think about what they actually know and hopefully succeed; so here he is, happily, at SME.