Question

Classify each substance based on the intermolecular forces present in that substance. 

Hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, and dispersion 

Dipole-dipole and dispersion only .

 Dispersion only 

Answer Bank 

HF CO2 CO CH3CI

Answer 1

Dipole-dipole interactions occur between polar molecules. An example of a polar molecule would be CH3Cl, or chloromethane. Chloromethane is a carbon with three hydrogens and a chlorine attached to it. The carbon-hydrogen bonds are essentially non-polar, but the carbon-chlorine bond is polar.

CO2 has two C=O bonds. The dipoles point in opposite directions, so they cancel each other out. Thus, although CO₂ has polar bonds, it is a nonpolar molecule. Therefore, the only intermolecular forces are London dispersion forces.