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Intermolecular Forces Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Intermolecular Forces distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/intermolecular-forces/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

London Dispersion Forces

Weakest IMF; arise from temporary dipoles. Present in ALL molecules. Strength increases with molar mass and surface area.

Dipole-Dipole Forces

Attractions between permanent dipoles of polar molecules.

Hydrogen Bonding

Strong dipole-dipole force when H is bonded to N, O, or F.

Ion-Dipole Forces

Attraction between an ion and a polar molecule. Strongest IMF in solutions.

Vapor Pressure

Pressure exerted by vapor in equilibrium with its liquid. Inversely related to IMF strength.

Phase Diagram

Graph of pressure vs temperature showing solid, liquid, and gas regions, with triple and critical points.

Colligative Properties

Properties depending on number of solute particles, not identity: boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, osmotic pressure.

Viscosity

Resistance to flow. Increases with stronger IMFs and larger molecules.

Key Terms at a Glance

London Dispersion Forces (LDF):Weak IMFs from temporary dipoles; present in all molecules.
Dipole-Dipole Forces:IMF between permanent dipoles of polar molecules.
Hydrogen Bonding:Strong dipole-dipole interaction involving H bonded to N, O, or F.
Ion-Dipole Forces:Attraction between ions and polar molecules; dominant in ionic solutions.
Vapor Pressure:Pressure of vapor in dynamic equilibrium with liquid at a given temperature.
Boiling Point:Temperature where vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure.
Phase Diagram:Pressure vs temperature plot showing phases and phase boundaries.
Triple Point:Unique conditions where all three phases coexist.
Critical Point:T and P above which distinct liquid and gas phases do not exist.
Colligative Properties:Solution properties depending on solute particle count: BP elevation, FP depression, osmotic pressure.
Viscosity:Measure of a fluid resistance to flow; increases with stronger IMFs.
Surface Tension:Tendency of liquid surface to minimize area due to inward IMF pull.
Van t Hoff Factor (i):Number of particles a formula unit dissociates into in solution.

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Intermolecular Forces Cheat Sheet - Quick Reference Guide | PiqCue