How do intermolecular forces affect evaporation?
The larger the intermolecular forces in a compound, the slower is its evaporation rate.
In order of decreasing strength, the important intermolecular forces in a compound are:
Hydrogen bonds > Dipole-dipole attractions > London dispersion forces
They all depend on the fact that a polar molecule has both positive and negative charges. The positively charged part of one molecule aligns with the negatively charged part of another molecule.
These forces of attraction hold polar liquids together.
If the molecules are held tightly together by strong intermolecular forces, few of the molecules will have enough kinetic energy to separate from each other.
They will stay in the liquid phase, and the rate of evaporation will be low.
If the molecules are held loosely together by Van der Waal's forces, many of them will have enough kinetic energy to separate from each other.
They will escape from the liquid phase, and the rate of evaporation will be high. So, the greater the intermolecular force in a compound, the slower will its rate of evaporation.
The larger the intermolecular forces in a compound, the slower is its evaporation rate.
In order of decreasing strength, the important intermolecular forces in a compound are:
Hydrogen bonds > Dipole-dipole attractions > London dispersion forces
They all depend on the fact that a polar molecule has both positive and negative charges. The positively charged part of one molecule aligns with the negatively charged part of another molecule.
These forces of attraction hold polar liquids together.
If the molecules are held tightly together by strong intermolecular forces, few of the molecules will have enough kinetic energy to separate from each other.
They will stay in the liquid phase, and the rate of evaporation will be low.
If the molecules are held loosely together by Van der Waal's forces, many of them will have enough kinetic energy to separate from each other.
They will escape from the liquid phase, and the rate of evaporation will be high. So, the greater the intermolecular force in a compound, the slower will its rate of evaporation.
