Introduction of Intermolecular Forces

Introduction of Intermolecular Forces

I think just by looking at the word “inter” we can know that this is a kind of force that happens between or among molecules. Intermolecular attractions are attractions between one molecule and a neighboring molecule.  They are weak compared to the intermolecular forces, since intermolecular forces create the needed force to keep a molecule together. For example, the covalent bonds which involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, which present a much stronger force than the forces present between the two neighboring molecules.

All molecules experience intermolecular attractions, although in some cases those attractions are very weak. Even in a gas like hydrogen (H2) if you slow the molecules down by cooling the gas, the attractions are large enough for the molecules to stick together eventually to form a liquid and then a solid.

Intermolecular forces can be considered by the following forces: