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Chapter 11: Problem 69

What is the relationship between intermolecular forces in a liquid and the liquid's boiling point and critical temperature? Why is the critical temperature of water greater than that of most other substances?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The boiling and critical temperatures of a liquid are directly related to the strength of the intermolecular forces in it. A stronger intermolecular force leads to higher boiling and critical temperatures. Water has a higher critical temperature than most other substances due to the presence of hydrogen bonding, which is a strong form of intermolecular force.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction between different molecules. They play a significant role in determining the physical and chemical properties of substances. In the case of liquids, these forces hold the molecules together. The strength of these forces varies between different substances.
02

Correlation between Intermolecular Forces and Boiling Point

Boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid changes its state to vapor. It is directly related to the strength of the intermolecular forces: the stronger the forces, the higher the boiling point. This is because more energy (or higher temperature) is needed to overcome the intermolecular forces to change the state from liquid to vapor.
03

Correlation between Intermolecular Forces and Critical Temperature

The critical temperature of a substance is the temperature above which it cannot be liquefied, no matter how much pressure is applied. This is also directly related to the strength of intermolecular forces. Higher the strength of these forces, higher will be the critical temperature.
04

Special Case of Water

Water molecules form hydrogen bonds, which are relatively stronger intermolecular forces. This results in higher boiling and critical temperatures for water as compared to most other substances that do not form hydrogen bonds or have weaker intermolecular forces.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A chemistry instructor performed the following mystery demonstration. Just before the students arrived in class, she heated some water to boiling in an Erlenmeyer flask. She then removed the flask from the flame and closed the flask with a rubber stopper. After the class commenced, she held the flask in front of the students and announced that she could make the water boil simply by rubbing an ice cube on the outside walls of the flask. To the amazement of everyone, it worked. Give an explanation for this phenomenon.

Classify the solid states in terms of crystal types of the elements in the third period of the periodic table. Predict the trends in their melting points and boiling points.

How is the molar heat of sublimation related to the molar heats of vaporization and fusion? On what law are these relationships based?

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