Question

What intermolecular forces are found in vitamin C and which would be the dominate force felt?

Answer 1

Forces that attract or repel adjacent molecules are called as 'intermolecular forces'.Three important types of intermolecular forces are dispersion, hydrogen bonding, and dipole-dipole interaction. The intermolecular force of dispersion occurs between any two adjacent molecules. Hydrogen bonding is an intermolecular force present between the hydrogen atom of one molecule and the electrnegative atom like O, N or F of another molecule. Dipole-dipole interaction is the intermolecular force that acts between any two adjacent polar molecules.

Vitamin C & Carbon Dioxide

The intermolecular forces acting between Vitamin C and carbon dioxide include hydrogen bonding and dispersion. Hydrogen bonding is present because H atom of Vitamin C is f strongly attracted to O of carbon dioxide. Dispersion is another intermolecular force present because it acts between any two adjacent molecules. Dipole-dipole is not an active force between these two molecules because carbon dioxide is nonpolar where as Vitamin C is polar molecule. Vitamin C & WATER: Dispersion and hydrogen bonding are intermolecular forces that act between Vitamin C and water. Dipole-dipole is absent between these two molecules because water is nonpolar and Vitamin C is polar. Dispersion occurs between any two adjacent molecules, including Vitamin C and water. Hydrogen from Vitamin C is attracted to oxygen from water or vice versa.