Interactions, Attractive forces where we think there might be none

Some vocabulary and understanding Here is a chart illustrating different forces between and within molecules Intra: the forces that keep a molecule together, describes interactions in the molecules and the atoms that comprise them Inter: Interactions between molecules or atoms (in the case of noble gases) dont limit this definition to simply molecules.

Intermolecular and Intramolecular Forces

Force Intramolecular Ionic Opposite charges 4000 400 NaCl Model Basis of Attraction Energy (kJ/mol) Example

Covalent

Nuclei shared epair Metal cations and delocalized electrons

1100 150

H-H

Metallic

1000 75

Au

Intermolecular Ion-dipole Ion and polar molecule Partial charges of polar molcules H bonded to N, O, or F, and another N, O, or F 600 40 Na+ & H2O HCl & HCl H2O & NH3

Dipole-dipole

25 5 40 10

Hydrogen bond

London dispersion

Induced dipoles of polarizable molecules

40 0.05

Xe & Xe

Transient dipoles: occur when a dipole of one atom or molecule approaches another neutral or nonpolar atom and molecule and creates a momentary dipole usually these propagate throughout a liquid or solid. Polarizabilty: the ability to distort electron cloud how easy it is I will discuss what affects this at the end First! Lets establish electrons dont adhere to perfection, a spherical shape or perfect distribution, From Wikipedia:
In atoms with multiple electrons, the energy of an electron depends not only on the intrinsic properties of its orbital, but also on its interactions with the other electrons. These interactions depend on the detail of its spatial probability distribution, and so the energy levels of orbitals depend not only on n but also on . So electrons movement is influenced by multiple factors.

So why do these atoms that have a full valence shell and are nonpolar in nature have attractive forces and electrostatic interactions? Well on average these full valence shells have a spherical electron distribution but remember this is an average, electrons arent moving in a perfectly spherical path as we know from our previous understanding in other chemistry courses. These electrons are consistently in motion and it is possible for the concentration of electrons or electron density to be on one side of the atom, the attractive forces between non polar molecules comes from this momentary or transient dipole. On one end of the atom there is a concentration of electrons (weak force and momentary but it is still there) the concentration of electrons on the one side of the atom at this particular moment repels the electrons of a neighboring atom and attracts the positively charge nucleus towards the negative end of the first atom which has that transient dipole. But now to deal with our second atom, as the nucleus of atom 2 is draw towards the area of atom 1 that has a higher electron density, the electrons of atom 2 are repelled to the other end of atom 2 and again we have a transient dipole! Now this effect propagates through the entire liquid or solid! Crazy right! Well now lets address some important factors that affect the extent of these attractive forces from the presence of transient dipoles!

Molecular weight -Heavier atoms will have larger dipoles than lighter smaller ones More electrons, larger extent of London dispersion forces -As the number of electrons around an atom increases ( heavier atoms when neutral protons=electrons) the nucleus is more shielded from the other electrons in lower orbitals closer to the nucleus the valence

electrons there force are less attracted to the nucleus as they get farther away from it and therefore they can form larger transient dipoles. Example Helium with amu 4 and 2 electrons around its nucleus will form weaker London dispersion forces or van derwalls interactions compared to argon Surface Area Increasing surface area increases the magnitude of London dispersion forces. (As Dr. H said maybe molecular weight)