Question

List the substances NaCl, Cl2, CH3Cl, and CH3COOH in order of increasing strength of intermolecular attractions. List the substances , , , and in order of increasing strength of intermolecular attractions. NaCl

Answer 1

The order will be:

Cl₂ < CH₃Cl < CH₃COOH < NaCl

Step-by-step explanation:

More the polarity in a compound more the intermolecular interactions between the molecules.

Out of the given molecules, NaCl is the ionic compound and will have strong ion -ion interactions thus will have highest order of strength of intermolecular interactions.

Then CH₃COOH may also dissociate to give acetate ion and hydrogen ion thus it will also show ionic interactions but as it is a weak electrolyte it will have less interactions then NaCl

CH₃Cl is slightly more polar than Cl₂ (which is non polar so will have only london dispersion forces which are weakest intermolecular interactions), so CH₃Cl will have dipole dipole interactions

The order will be:

Cl₂ < CH₃Cl < CH₃COOH < NaCl