1 | Page
University of South Carolina-Columbia
CHEM 333 INTERMOLECULAR FORCES
AND PROPERTIES (essential knowledge
and power points) Questions and Answers
2026 Latest Update
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
How can the relative strength of London dispersion forces be determined?
Ans: London dispersion forces are a result of the Coulombic interactions
between temporary, fluctuating dipoles. London dispersion forces are often
the strongest net intermolecular force between large molecules.
a. Dispersion forces increase with increasing contact area between
molecules and with increasing polarizability of the molecules.
b. The polarizability of a molecule increases
c. The term "London dispersion forces" should not be used synonymously
with the term "van der Waals forces."
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
describe dipole iduced dipole interactions. Ans: The dipole moment of a
polar molecule leads to additional interactions with other chemical species.
. Dipole-induced dipole interactions are present between a polar and
nonpolar molecule. These forces are always attractive. The strength of these
forces increases with the magnitude of the dipole of the polar molecule and
with the polarizability of the nonpolar molecule.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
Describe dipole-dipole interactions. Ans: The dipole moment of a polar
molecule leads to additional interactions with other chemical species.
Dipole-dipole interactions are present between polar molecules. The
interaction strength depends on the magnitudes of the dipoles and their
relative orientation. Interactions between polar molecules are typically
greater than those between nonpolar molecules of comparable size because
these interactions act in addition to London dispersion forces.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
Describe ion-dipole forces. Ans: The dipole moment of a polar molecule
leads to additional interactions with other chemical species.
Ion-dipole forces of attraction are present between ions and polar
molecules. These tend to be stronger than dipole-dipole forces.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
How can the relative strength and orientation dependence of dipole-dipole
and ion-dipole forces be understood? Ans: The relative strength and
orientation dependence of dipole-dipole and ion-dipole forces can be
understood qualitatively by considering the sign of the partial charges
responsible for the molecular dipole moment, and how these partial charges
interact with an ion or with an adjacent dipole.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
Describe hydrogen bonding. Ans: Hydrogen bonding is a strong type of
intermolecular interaction that exists when hydrogen atoms covalently
bonded to the highly electronegative atoms (N, O, and F) are attracted to the
negative end of a dipole formed by the electronegative atom (N, O, and F) in
a different molecule, or a different part of the same molecule.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
what type of reaction occurs in large biomolecules? Ans: In large
biomolecules, noncovalent interactions may occur between different
molecules or between different regions of the same large biomolecule.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
© 2026 All rights reserved
University of South Carolina-Columbia
CHEM 333 INTERMOLECULAR FORCES
AND PROPERTIES (essential knowledge
and power points) Questions and Answers
2026 Latest Update
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
How can the relative strength of London dispersion forces be determined?
Ans: London dispersion forces are a result of the Coulombic interactions
between temporary, fluctuating dipoles. London dispersion forces are often
the strongest net intermolecular force between large molecules.
a. Dispersion forces increase with increasing contact area between
molecules and with increasing polarizability of the molecules.
b. The polarizability of a molecule increases
c. The term "London dispersion forces" should not be used synonymously
with the term "van der Waals forces."
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
describe dipole iduced dipole interactions. Ans: The dipole moment of a
polar molecule leads to additional interactions with other chemical species.
. Dipole-induced dipole interactions are present between a polar and
nonpolar molecule. These forces are always attractive. The strength of these
forces increases with the magnitude of the dipole of the polar molecule and
with the polarizability of the nonpolar molecule.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
Describe dipole-dipole interactions. Ans: The dipole moment of a polar
molecule leads to additional interactions with other chemical species.
Dipole-dipole interactions are present between polar molecules. The
interaction strength depends on the magnitudes of the dipoles and their
relative orientation. Interactions between polar molecules are typically
greater than those between nonpolar molecules of comparable size because
these interactions act in addition to London dispersion forces.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
Describe ion-dipole forces. Ans: The dipole moment of a polar molecule
leads to additional interactions with other chemical species.
Ion-dipole forces of attraction are present between ions and polar
molecules. These tend to be stronger than dipole-dipole forces.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
How can the relative strength and orientation dependence of dipole-dipole
and ion-dipole forces be understood? Ans: The relative strength and
orientation dependence of dipole-dipole and ion-dipole forces can be
understood qualitatively by considering the sign of the partial charges
responsible for the molecular dipole moment, and how these partial charges
interact with an ion or with an adjacent dipole.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
Describe hydrogen bonding. Ans: Hydrogen bonding is a strong type of
intermolecular interaction that exists when hydrogen atoms covalently
bonded to the highly electronegative atoms (N, O, and F) are attracted to the
negative end of a dipole formed by the electronegative atom (N, O, and F) in
a different molecule, or a different part of the same molecule.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
(Explain the relationship between the chemical structures of molecules and
the relative strength of their intermolecular forces when:
a. The molecules are of the same chemical species
b. The molecules are of two different chemical species.)
what type of reaction occurs in large biomolecules? Ans: In large
biomolecules, noncovalent interactions may occur between different
molecules or between different regions of the same large biomolecule.
*Intermolecular forces can explain the physical properties of a material.
© 2026 All rights reserved
