Intermolecular Forces
The lewis structure below, to the left, is a representation of a jadeite molecule, and the lewis structure below, to the right, represents a sodium hydroxide molecule. The NaOH molecule will aid in the demonstration of intermolecular forces that can act on a jadeite molecule.
There are three different intermolecular forces that can act upon the jadeite molecule...
- The first type of intermolecular force would be a dipole-dipole interaction. This type of interaction is the strongest interaction of the three, and it occurs when the partially positive end of one polar molecule becomes attracted to the partially negative end of another polar molecule. Jadeite is a polar molecule because its structure is asymmetrical, and the molecule does not exhibit an equal distribution of charges. Sodium hydroxide is also polar for the same reason. In terms of jadeite and sodium hydroxide, this dipole-dipole interaction can occur when a negatively charged oxygen atom of jadeite is attracted to the positively charged sodium atom in sodium hydroxide.
- The second type of intermolecular force that could act upon the molecules would be a hydrogen bond, which is the weakest type intermolecular force. A hydrogen bond occurs when the hydrogen atom of one molecule is attracted to the nitrogen, fluorine, or oxygen atom of another molecule. In terms of the molecules above, a hydrogen bond can occur when the hydrogen atom of sodium hydroxide is attracted to an oxygen atom in jadeite.
- The third type of intermolecular force would be a dispersion force. Dispersion forces always act upon every two adjacent molecules in a liquid, and this type of interaction is not dependent upon polarity.