Based on your knowledge of the relative strength of the four major intermolecular forces, would you expect for a nonpolar molecule to have a higher or lower boiling point than a polar molecule? For this question, assume that the molecules have the same relative size.

Respuesta :

Answer: A nonpolar molecule should have lower boiling point as compared to a polar molecule.

Explanation:

Melting and boiling points are the properties which show a measure of how strong the forces are between molecules. Intermolecular forces refer to forces between molecules, while Intramolecular forces refer to forces within a molecule.

The general principle: when bonds become more polarized, the charges on the atoms are greater, which leads to greater intermolecular attractions, resulting in higher boiling points.

The four key intermolecular forces from strongest to weakest are:  Ionic bonds > Hydrogen bonding > Van der Waals dipole-dipole interactions > Van der Waals dispersion forces.

Ionic bonding and Hydrogen bonding will have much higher melting and boiling points than those of ordinary dipole-dipole intramolecular forces followed by non-polar weak van der Waals forces.

With the assumption that the molecules have the same relative size (boiling point increases with molecular weight, and with surface area), polar molecules will have a higher boiling point as compared to a nonpolar molecules.