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Edexcel A Level Chemistry

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular forces are the attractions between molecules, and they decide melting temperature, boiling temperature, volatility and solubility. These pages separate London forces, permanent dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding, then apply them to water, to boiling temperature trends and to the choice of solvent.

Exam Papers
Paper 1 & 2
9CH0/01 and 9CH0/02
Specification Points
2.15 – 2.24
8 points covered
Sub-topics
6 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Edexcel
Pearson 9CH0

Revision Notes

Work through each part of Edexcel Topic 2 in a structured sequence.

Induced dipoles
London Forces
instantaneous and induced dipoles
1

London Forces

Revise how moving electrons create instantaneous and induced dipoles, and why electrons and shape decide their strength.

Start revising
Permanent dipoles
Permanent Dipole-Dipole Forces
attraction between polar molecules
2

Permanent Dipole-Dipole Forces

Revise which molecules have a permanent dipole, how they attract, and how to decide the forces in an unfamiliar molecule.

Start revising
Strong IMF
Hydrogen Bonding
lone pair to δ+ hydrogen
3

Hydrogen Bonding

Revise the N-H, O-H and H-F requirement, the exam diagram, and predicting hydrogen bonding in other molecules.

Start revising
Ice and boiling
Anomalous Properties of Water
ice density and high boiling temperature
4

Anomalous Properties of Water

Revise why water has such a high boiling temperature, why ice floats and why water has a high surface tension.

Start revising
Trends
Boiling Temperature Trends
chain length, branching, HF to HI
5

Boiling Temperature Trends

Revise boiling temperature trends for alkanes, branched isomers, alcohols and the hydrogen halides.

Start revising
Solubility
Choosing Solvents
hydration and hydrogen bonding
6

Choosing Solvents

Revise hydration of ions, alcohols in water, why some polar molecules do not dissolve, and non-aqueous solvents.

Start revising

Summary maps

Download, print and revise the key facts of this topic at a glance.

Summary map · PDF

Intermolecular Forces Map

Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 2 Intermolecular Forces

The whole section on one A4 page: bonds or forces, London forces, permanent dipoles, hydrogen bonds, H₂O, NH₃ and HF, and why water is odd.

Download the map6 key ideas + a data table · A4 portrait · print ready
Summary map · PDF

Boiling Temperatures and Solvents Map

Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 2 Boiling Temperatures and Solvents

The whole section on one A4 page: chain length, branching, alcohols against alkanes, the hydrogen halides, water as a solvent and other solvents.

Download the map6 key ideas + a data table · A4 portrait · print ready

© 2026 Online Learning System. For personal study: printing is allowed; editing, copying and redistribution are not.

Specification Coverage

Intermolecular Forces – Edexcel A Level Chemistry

The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 2.

2A: Bonding

2.15
understand that molecules with polar bonds may not be polar molecules and be able to predict whether or not a given molecule is likely to be polar
2.16
understand the nature of intermolecular forces resulting from the following interactions:
i
London forces, instantaneous dipole-induced dipole
ii
permanent dipoles
iii
hydrogen bonds
2.17
understand the interactions in molecules, such as H2O, liquid NH3 and liquid HF, which give rise to hydrogen bonding
2.18
understand the following anomalous properties of water resulting from hydrogen bonding:
i
its relatively high melting temperature and boiling temperature
ii
the density of ice compared to that of water
2.19
be able to predict the presence of hydrogen bonding in molecules analogous to those mentioned above
2.20
understand, in terms of intermolecular forces, physical properties shown by materials, including:
i
the trends in boiling temperatures of alkanes with increasing chain length
ii
the effect of branching in the carbon chain on the boiling temperatures of alkanes
iii
the relatively low volatility, higher boiling temperatures, of alcohols compared to alkanes with a similar number of electrons
iv
the trends in boiling temperatures of the hydrogen halides, HF to HI
2.21
understand factors that influence the choice of solvents, including:
i
water, to dissolve some ionic compounds, in terms of the hydration of the ions
ii
water, to dissolve simple alcohols, in terms of hydrogen bonding
iii
water, as a poor solvent for compounds, to include polar molecules such as halogenoalkanes, in terms of inability to form hydrogen bonds
iv
non-aqueous solvents, for compounds that have similar intermolecular forces to those in the solvent

2B: Structure

2.24
know that the structure of covalently bonded substances such as iodine, I2, and ice, H2O, is simple molecular
Specification Coverage

Intermolecular Forces – Edexcel A Level Chemistry

The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 2.

2A: Bonding

2.15
understand that molecules with polar bonds may not be polar molecules and be able to predict whether or not a given molecule is likely to be polar
2.16
understand the nature of intermolecular forces resulting from the following interactions:
i
London forces, instantaneous dipole-induced dipole
ii
permanent dipoles
iii
hydrogen bonds
2.17
understand the interactions in molecules, such as H2O, liquid NH3 and liquid HF, which give rise to hydrogen bonding
2.18
understand the following anomalous properties of water resulting from hydrogen bonding:
i
its relatively high melting temperature and boiling temperature
ii
the density of ice compared to that of water
2.19
be able to predict the presence of hydrogen bonding in molecules analogous to those mentioned above
2.20
understand, in terms of intermolecular forces, physical properties shown by materials, including:
i
the trends in boiling temperatures of alkanes with increasing chain length
ii
the effect of branching in the carbon chain on the boiling temperatures of alkanes
iii
the relatively low volatility, higher boiling temperatures, of alcohols compared to alkanes with a similar number of electrons
iv
the trends in boiling temperatures of the hydrogen halides, HF to HI
2.21
understand factors that influence the choice of solvents, including:
i
water, to dissolve some ionic compounds, in terms of the hydration of the ions
ii
water, to dissolve simple alcohols, in terms of hydrogen bonding
iii
water, as a poor solvent for compounds, to include polar molecules such as halogenoalkanes, in terms of inability to form hydrogen bonds
iv
non-aqueous solvents, for compounds that have similar intermolecular forces to those in the solvent

2B: Structure

2.24
know that the structure of covalently bonded substances such as iodine, I2, and ice, H2O, is simple molecular