Intermolecular forces and electronegativity Flashcards
What is electronegativity?
Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract the pair of electrons in a covalent bond.
Which atoms can form hydrogen bonds and why?
Nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine because they have the highest electronegativity.
Name the intermolecular forces in order of strength:
VDWs, Dipole-Dipole forces, Hydrogen bonds
What causes van der Waals forces?
Caused by the random movement of electrons from one end to another. Hence causing a temporary dipole. Only exists when two atoms/molecules are near each other, when they move away they are destroyed.
What causes dipole-dipole forces?
They are weak electrostatic forces that exist between molecules with a polarity.
Why do longer, straighter hydrocarbons have a higher boiling point?
More van der Waals forces so more energy is needed to break them.
Why is ice less dense than water?
Ice forms a regular structure held together by hydrogen bonds. The molecules are further apart making them less dense than water.
