Forces of Attraction

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Intramolecular Force Noun

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[in-truh-muh-lek-yuh-ler fors]

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Intramolecular Force

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The attractive forces, such as ionic or covalent bonds, that hold atoms or ions together within a single compound.

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Example: This diagram shows an intramolecular force as the strong chemical bond holding the hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl) atoms together within a single molecule.

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Intermolecular Force Noun

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[in-ter-muh-lek-yuh-ler fors]

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Intermolecular Force

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The forces of attraction that exist between separate molecules or particles, which are generally weaker than intramolecular forces.

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Example: This diagram shows an intermolecular force by illustrating how the partially positive side of one molecule is attracted to the partially negative side of another molecule.

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Ionic Bond Noun

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[ahy-on-ik bond]

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Ionic Bond

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An intramolecular force resulting from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, specifically cations and anions, forming a compound.

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Example: This diagram shows a sodium atom transferring an electron to a chlorine atom, creating oppositely charged ions whose attraction forms an ionic bond.

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Covalent Bond Noun

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[koh-vey-luhnt bond]

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Covalent Bond

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An intramolecular force created by the mutual attraction between atomic nuclei and the electrons that are shared between them.

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Example: This diagram shows two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom sharing their outer electrons to form strong connections, called covalent bonds, creating a water molecule.

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Metallic Bond Noun

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[muh-tal-ik bond]

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Metallic Bond

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An intramolecular force based on the attraction between positive metal cations and a surrounding 'sea' of mobile, delocalized electrons.

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Example: This diagram shows how metal atoms form a lattice of positive ions surrounded by a 'sea' of shared, delocalized electrons, creating a strong metallic bond.

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Cation Noun

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[kat-ahy-uhn]

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Cation

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A positively charged ion that is formed when a neutral atom loses one or more of its valence electrons.

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Example: A neutral sodium atom (Na) loses its outer electron, resulting in a positively charged sodium ion (Na+), which is a cation.

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Anion Noun

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[an-ahy-uhn]

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Anion

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A negatively charged ion that is formed when a neutral atom gains one or more valence electrons.

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Example: A neutral chlorine atom gains an electron, filling its outer shell and becoming a negatively charged chloride anion (Cl⁻).

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Delocalized Electrons Noun

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[dee-loh-kuh-lahyzd ih-lek-trons]

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Delocalized Electrons

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Electrons in a molecule, ion, or metal that are not associated with a single atom or a specific covalent bond.

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Example: This diagram shows that in a metal, delocalized electrons move randomly (left), but when a voltage is applied, they are forced to move in one direction (right).

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Dispersion Force Noun

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[dih-spur-zhuhn fors]

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Dispersion Force

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A weak intermolecular force resulting from temporary shifts in electron density, which create momentary dipoles in molecules.

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Example: This image shows how the random movement of electrons in a molecule creates a temporary, uneven charge (a temporary dipole), which then causes a similar temporary dipole in a nearby molecule, leading to a weak attractive force between them.

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Temporary Dipole Noun

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[tem-puh-rer-ee dahy-pohl]

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Temporary Dipole

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A momentary separation of charge within a nonpolar molecule caused by the random, uneven distribution of its electrons.

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Example: Random electron movement creates a temporary, uneven charge (a temporary dipole), inducing a dipole in a neighbor and causing a weak attractive force.