What is the difference between bonds and intermolecular forces

Hydrogen bonding is stronger than the other intermolecular forces discussed here, although it is not in fact a bond. Evidence of the effects of hydrogen bonding can be seen in the graph below. This highlights how the boiling points of the three molecules, H 2 O, HF which can undergo hydrogen bonding between themselves, are a lot higher than the trend would suggest i. Without the ability to hydrogen bonding these molecules would be predicted to have a lot lower boiling points.

Note the reason for the general trend for the molecules that cannot undergo hydrogen bonding increases is, because the dispersion forces between molecules increase as the molecular weight of the molecule increases. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4. Skip to content Home Resources for students The Chemistry of…. Bonding and Intermolecular forces. Page created by Tom Squire Download a printable version of this document here Covalent bonding A covalent bond is a bond which occurs when 2 atoms share a pair of electrons.

Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like this: Like Loading One of the biggest sources of difficulty for a chemistry student is the distinction between chemical bonds and intermolecular forces. While both are used to hold chemical systems together, they each introduce their own specific qualities into structures.

This presentation is designed to draw basic comparisons between the two very different mechanisms. Bonds and intermolecular forces have one very fundamental thing in common. Both mechanisms are electrostatic forces of attraction Coulombic forces between areas of charge. Please read the Duke Wordpress Policies. Contact the Duke WordPress team.

The Pharmacology Education Partnership. Home About Effectiveness Downloads Contact. Search Search. It's Radical! Covalent Bond: a bond in which a pair or pairs of electrons is shared by two atoms. Molecular compounds refer to covalently-bonded species, generally of low molecular mass. Macromolecular compounds are high molecular mass compounds that are covalently-bonded and linear, branched, or cross linked.

They form when two atoms share or transfer electrons with each other to stay stable. To stay stable, both atoms sort of "team up"; the sodium offers to donate its electron, which the chlorine willingly accepts. Therefore both of them have a chemical bond, more specifically an ionic bond. Another example is CO2 carbon dioxide.

Carbon has 4 valence electrons , and oxygen has 6 valence electrons. Atoms until the second row are usually happy when they have 8 valence electrons an exception is hydrogen.

So, carbon, and the two oxygen atoms, plan to share electrons among one another; this is a chemical bond called covalent bonds. One thing to note, intermolecular forces exist between just about everything: atoms, molecules, compounds.