Question

What type of intermolecular force will act in the following substance? Justify your answer. 

a. Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) 

b. Nitrogen gas (N₂) 

c. Hydrogen fluoride 

Answer 1

a) SO₂ is a polar molecule. Generally dipole-dipole forces are stronger than LDF forces.

b) Nitrogen gas (N₂) is diatomic and non-polar because both nitrogen atoms have the same degree of electro-negativity. London dispersion forces allows nitrogen atoms stick together to form a liquid.

c) Hydrogen fluoride, HF, has extensive INTERMOLECULAR hydrogen bonding, because the individual molecules comprise a molecular dipole.