Practice Intermolecular Forces in Chemistry
Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.
Quick Recap
Intermolecular forces are attractions between separate particles, usually molecules, rather than bonds within a single molecule.
These are the attractions between neighboring particles, not the bonds holding each particle together.
Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.
Example 1
mediumRank the boiling points of , , , from lowest to highest.
Example 2
mediumRank the boiling points of , , and from lowest to highest.
Example 3
hardExplain why noble gases can be liquefied at all if they have only dispersion forces.
Example 4
mediumWhich IMF type makes ion-dipole interactions in NaCl(aq) possible (between and water)?
Example 5
mediumWhich IMFs act between two molecules? CH₃Cl: the lone Cl breaks tetrahedral symmetry, leaving a net dipole → dipole-dipole + dispersion
Example 6
easyAre intermolecular forces stronger or weaker than the covalent bonds within a molecule?
Example 7
challengePredict and explain whether or has the higher boiling point.
Example 8
mediumIdentify the strongest IMF in liquid ethanol .
Example 9
easyDo IMFs hold atoms together inside a single molecule?
Example 10
mediumWhich IMFs act in liquid ? NH₃: polar pyramidal shape + N-H bonds → hydrogen bonding + dipole-dipole + dispersion all present
Example 11
mediumWhy does have a higher boiling point than ? NH₃: N-H bonds plus lone pair enable hydrogen bonding; PH₃ lacks this
Example 12
easyName the IMF that occurs only in polar molecules without H-N/O/F.
Example 13
easyWhich IMF acts between two argon () atoms?
Example 14
hardPredict which is more volatile: acetone or 1-propanol . Both have similar molar mass.
Example 15
easyWhich IMF acts between two nonpolar molecules?
Example 16
mediumWhy does increasing IMF strength generally raise a liquid's boiling point?
Example 17
mediumWhy is petroleum jelly (long hydrocarbons) a solid/semi-solid while gasoline (shorter hydrocarbons) is a liquid at room temperature?
Example 18
hardIdentify the strongest IMF in liquid acetic acid .
Example 19
challengeNoble gases He, Ne, Ar have rising boiling points down the group. Explain using IMFs.
Example 20
mediumWhy does cooking oil not mix with water?