Strong or Nah?
Name That Force!
Strength Showdown
IMFs in Action
Grab Bag
100

A liquid has low vapor pressure and high surface tension.

STRONG!!!

100

A nonpolar molecule like CO₂ interacting with another CO₂ molecule

London Dispersion Forces

100

Rank: He, Ne, Ar

He < Ne < Ar (increasing size → stronger dispersion)

100

Pentane evaporates faster than water. What does this indicate?

Pentane has weaker IMFs

100

A molecule is nonpolar. What is the only intermolecular force present?
 

London Dispersion Forces

200

A substance boils at −50°C and evaporates quickly at room temp.

WEAKKKKK

200

Attraction between HCl molecules 

Name the force AND draw a model to support it.

Dipole-Dipole 


200

Rank the following and draw the diagrams: 

CH₄, NH₃, H₂O

CH₄ < NH₃ < H₂O

200

Ethanol partially evaporates, water remains. Compare IMFs.

Water stronger (hydrogen bonding stronger than ethanol’s overall IMFs)

200

A student claims that all polar molecules have hydrogen bonding.
Using evidence from intermolecular forces, evaluate this claim.

Incorrect; only molecules with H bonded to N, O, or F have hydrogen bonding. Other polar molecules only have dipole-dipole forces.

300

Two liquids: one is thick and pours slowly, the other is runny.
Which has stronger IMFs and why? 

Note: MUST USE THE CORRECT WORD!

Thick liquid; higher viscosity = stronger IMFs

300

Attraction between water molecules.

Name the force AND draw a model to support it.

Hydrogen Bonding

300

Which has stronger IMFs: NH₃ or PH₃? Explain.

NH₃; hydrogen bonding present

300

A liquid forms beads on a surface instead of spreading out. What property and IMF strength?
 

High surface tension; strong IMFs

300

A substance requires a large amount of energy to change from liquid to gas.
Explain what is happening at the particle level.

Strong attractions between particles must be overcome. Most likely polar. 

400

A substance has high vapor pressure but low boiling point. Explain IMF strength.

In other words: WHY does this happen? 

Weak IMFs; particles escape easily

400

Is CH3Cl a polar or nonpolar covalent bond? Explain.

CH3Cl is a polar covalent bond due to its electronegativity difference and its asymmetric shape.

400

Rank: C₅H₁₂, C₃H₈, C₈H₁₈

explain your answer.  

C₃H₈ < C₅H₁₂ < C₈H₁₈

400

A substance dissolves in benzene but not water. What does this tell you? 

think of the butter and water

the substance is nonpolar

400

Why do polar molecules experience dipole-dipole forces?
 

they have partial positive and negative ends due to unequal electron sharing

500

Two liquids are placed in identical conditions:

  • Liquid A forms beads and evaporates slowly
  • Liquid B spreads out and evaporates quickly

Using evidence from both observations, determine which liquid has stronger intermolecular forces and justify your answer using at least two properties and particle-level reasoning.

Liquid A; high surface tension (beading) and slow evaporation both indicate strong IMFs. Strong attractions between particles make them harder to separate and escape

500

Two substances both have dispersion forces, but one has a much higher boiling point. Explain.
 

Larger molecule / more electrons → stronger dispersion forces

500

A compound has a higher boiling point than another with similar structure. What are TWO possible reasons?

More electrons OR hydrogen bonding OR greater polarity

500

You are in the lab observing two unknown liquids:

  • A evaporates quickly
  • B has high viscosity
    Which has stronger IMFs and what evidence supports it?

 B; high viscosity = strong IMFs

500

Three substances are tested under the same conditions:

  • Substance A has a low boiling point and high vapor pressure
  • Substance B has a high boiling point and forms strong surface tension
  • Substance C has a moderate boiling point and is polar but does not contain H bonded to N, O, or F

a. Identify the most likely dominant intermolecular force in each substance
b. Rank A, B, and C from weakest to strongest intermolecular forces
c. Justify your ranking

  • A has high vapor pressure + low boiling point → weakest IMFs
  • B has high surface tension + high boiling point → strongest IMFs
  • C is polar → intermediate strength (dipole-dipole)
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