The Kinetic Molecular Model of Liquids & Solids

 Distance between gas molecules are so great at ordinary temperatures and pressures (25 *C and
1atm) that there is no real interaction between gas molecules.
 Liquids – the molecules are so close together that there is little empty space. Allowing for a
definite volume but taking the shape of it’s container.
 Solids – molecules are held rigidly in a position with virtually no freedom of motion. So that they
have a definite volume and shape.

Intermolecular Forces
 These are attractive forces between molecules:
Dispersion (London) Forces
 Dipole-Dipole Forces
 Hydrogen Bonding
 These forces are partly responsible for the non-ideal gas law behavior discussed earlier. And
these forces are why liquids and solids do not present “ideal behavior”.
 Keep in mind that intramolecular forces are forces within a molecule, and intermolecular forces
are between molecules.
 Boiling points and melting points often reflect the strength of these intermolecular forces.
 Molecular substances tend to have the following characteristics:
 Non-conductors of electricity when pure, for example pure water and ethyl
alcohol are 2 examples of molecular substances that, when pure, will not conduct
electricity.
 Generally, are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents.
 They tend to have low melting and boiling points. The stronger the
intermolecular force the higher the boiling or melting point.
Dipole-Dipole Forces:
These are attractive forces between polar molecules.
 i. The larger the dipole moment then the greater the dipole force.
ii. Polar molecules tend to have slightly higher boiling and melting points than non-
polar substances of similar MM.

Ion-Dipole Forces

An ion-dipole force is an attractive force that results from the electrostatic attraction between an ion and a
neutral molecule that has a dipole.

 Most commonly found in solutions. Especially important for solutions of ionic compounds in
polar liquids.
 A positive ion (cation) attracts the partially negative end of a neutral polar molecule.
 A negative ion (anion) attracts the partially positive end of a neutral polar molecule.
 Ion-dipole attractions become stronger as either the charge on the ion increases, or as the
magnitude of the dipole of the polar molecule increases.

Dispersion (London) Forces:

The attractive forces that arise as a result of temporary dipoles induced in atoms or molecules.
iii. This happens when something (cation or polar compound) “throws off” the
distribution of electrons in an atom or molecule.
iv. These forces can only occur in non-polar molecules.
As molar mass (MM) increases the dispersion forces become stronger, consequently the boiling
point of non-polar molecules tend to increase with MM.