Lecture 11.

Intermolecular Forces

Lecture Slides (02/04/03)

Polarity of CO2 and H2O

Intermolecular Forces
are also called
van der Waals forces

Intermolecular Forces
There are several types of intermolecular forces

Water - H2O

Carbon Dioxide - CO2

- .. .. O

..

The van der Waals radius is

one-half the distance between
adjacent nonbonded atoms
( VDW distance)

a polar molecule

The covalent radius is

one-half the distance between
bonded atoms ( bond length)

The bonds are polar,

and the molecule is
non-symmetrical.

Intermolecular Forces
A Dipole-dipole force is an attractive intermolecular force
resulting from the tendency of polar molecules to align themselves
such that the positive end of one molecule is near the negative
end of another

Hydrogen bonding is a weak to moderate attractive force that

exists between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a very
electronegative atom and a pair of electrons on another small,
electronegative atom, usually, F, O or N.

Hydrogen Bonding

dipole-dipole

dipole-induced dipole

O..

The bonds are polar, but the

molecule is symmetrical, so
that the molecule overall is
non-polar.

Ion-Dipole Forces
Ion-dipole forces results when an ion and
a polar molecule interact.

dispersion
hydrogen bonds
Ion-dipole forces results when an ion and a polar molecule
interact.
Dipoles arise from a degree of charge separation in a molecule
such as that which occurs in polar molecules
Ion-induced dipole forces arise from the interaction of the
charge on an ion with the electron cloud on a molecule. The
charge distorts the electron cloud inducing a dipole

Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen bonding is a weak to moderate attractive force
that exists between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a
very electronegative atom and a pair of electrons on another
small, electronegative atom, usually, F, O or N.

H
Na+

H
An example of ion-dipole forces is the
aquation of an ionic compound

Dipole-Dipole Forces
A Dipole-dipole force is an attractive intermolecular force
resulting from the tendency of polar molecules to align themselves
such that the positive end of one molecule is near the negative
end of another

Hydrogen bonding between GC

and AT base pairs in DNA

ion-dipole

a non-polar molecule

Dipole-induced dipole occurs from the interaction between

a dipole and an induced dipole.
London forces (dispersion forces) are the weak attractive forces
between molecules resulting from the small, instantaneous dipoles
that occur because of the varying positions of the electrons during
their motion about nuclei.

+
C

- ..

..

CHEM1907/8

Ion-Induced Dipole
Ion-induced dipole forces arise from the interaction of the
charge on an ion with the electron cloud on a molecule. The
charge distorts the electron cloud inducing a dipole

Na+

Cl

Cl

Hydrogen bonding between

water molecules

Dipole-Induced Dipole
Dipole-induced dipole occurs from the interaction between a
dipole and the electron cloud on a molecule. The dipole distorts
the electron cloud and induces a dipole.

Dispersion forces (London forces)

Intermolecular forces

Dispersion forces (London forces) are the weak attractive

forces between molecules resulting from the small, instantaneous
dipoles that occur because of the varying positions of the
electrons during their motion about nuclei.

Intermolecular forces influence the states of compounds

(eg halogens) and physical properties, such as boiling point

All molecules have dispersion forces due to the formation of

instantaneous dipoles.

H
Cl

Cl

The strength of London forces increase with atomic size and

explain why at room temperature chlorine is a gas
bromine is a liquid and
iodine is a solid

Acids and Bases in Biological Chemistry

Acids and Bases

Learning Objectives

Since homonuclear diatomic molecules have no dipole

moment, dispersion forces are important intermolecular
forces in these compounds

Acids

pH value of arterial blood is 7.4

pH values < 6.9 or > 7.7 = DEATH

(Silberberg; 18.1-18.5)

Become familiar with common acids and bases

H2PO4

Calculate pH values
Understand the relationship between pH and pKa values

HCO3 + H+

H2CO3

Definitions of Acids and Bases

H

Classical (Arrhenius) !
Brnsted-Lowry

Lewis

not yet

A base is a substance that contains the hydroxyl group and

dissociates in water to yield OH
An acid and a base react to form salt and water (Eq 1).

OH (aq)

H2O(l)

.. (Eq 2)

Strong

Hydrochloric acid; HCl

Hydrobromic acid; HBr
Hydriodoic acid; HI
Nitric acid; HNO3
Sulfuric acid; H2SO4
Perchloric acid; HClO4

Sodium hydroxide; NaOH

Potassium hydroxide; KOH
Calcium hydroxide; Ca(OH)2
Barium hydroxide; Ba(OH)2
Weak
Ammonia; NH3

Weak

Acids and bases are electrolytes; their strength is categorized in

terms of their degree of dissociation in water to make
hydronium or hydroxide ions.
Strong acids and bases
dissociate completely
and are strong electrolytes.

Hydrofluoric acid; HF
Phosphoric acid; H3PO4
Acetic acid; CH3COOH

Measure of Acid Strength

The strength of an acid solution is expressed as pH

pH = log[H+]
pH of a neutral solution = 7.00
pH of an acidic solution < 7.00
pH of a basic solution > 7.00
The pH scale (and other p scales) are logarithmic

.. (Eq 1)

Neutralisation (Eq 2) is the reaction of an H+ (H3O+) ion from

the acid and the OH ion from the base to form water (the ionic
equation of Eq 1)

H +(aq)

Acid - Base Strength

An acid is a substance that contains hydrogen and dissociates

in water to yield a H+ (H3O+) hydronium ion

NaCl + H2O

+ H+

HCl is secreted in our gastric juices

HNO3 stains skin yellow due to a reaction with skin proteins

Acids and Bases (Classical)

HCl + NaOH

Bases

Strong

HPO42 + H+

CO2 + H2O

Selected Acids and Bases

Weak acids and bases

dissociate weakly and
are weak electrolytes.

A change of one unit in pH represents a ten-fold

difference in [H+] concentration
A HCl solution of 1 103 M has a pH of 3
A HCl solution of 1 104 M has a pH of 4