What Are Intermolecular Forces?
- Intermolecular forces are weak forces that exist between electrically neutral molecules
- All intermolecular interactions are electrostatic
- This means that they involve attractions between positive and negative species, much like ionic bonds
- Intermolecular forces are generally weaker than intramolecular attraction forces like ionic bonds, covalent bonds and metallic bonds
- Intermolecular forces are responsible for the physical properties of covalent molecules including:
- Boiling point
- Melting point
- Density
- Viscosity
- Solubility
- For example, the stronger the intermolecular force, the higher the boiling and melting point of the molecule
Intermolecular Forces Vs Intramolecular Forces
Weak intermolecular forces exist between molecules while stronger intramolecular forces exist between the atoms that make up the molecules