Intermolecular forces are

Intermolecular forces are

• A. The forces that hold ionic lattices together.
• B. The strong covalent bonds within molecules.
• C. The forces that attract metal ions to electrons in a lattice.
• D. The weak forces of attraction between covalent molecules.

Answer: (D)

Intermolecular forces are the attractions that act between separate covalently bonded molecules, and they are generally much weaker than the bonds holding the atoms together within a molecule. This makes the statement describing them as the weak forces of attraction between covalent molecules the best fit. These forces—London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding where applicable—shape properties like boiling points and solubility of covalent substances. The other ideas refer to different kinds of bonding: the forces holding ionic lattices together are ionic bonds, which are not intermolecular; the strong covalent bonds within molecules are intramolecular, not between molecules; and the attraction involving metal ions to electrons in a lattice points to metallic bonding, not interactions between separate covalent molecules.

Intermolecular forces are the attractions that act between separate covalently bonded molecules, and they are generally much weaker than the bonds holding the atoms together within a molecule. This makes the statement describing them as the weak forces of attraction between covalent molecules the best fit. These forces—London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding where applicable—shape properties like boiling points and solubility of covalent substances.

The other ideas refer to different kinds of bonding: the forces holding ionic lattices together are ionic bonds, which are not intermolecular; the strong covalent bonds within molecules are intramolecular, not between molecules; and the attraction involving metal ions to electrons in a lattice points to metallic bonding, not interactions between separate covalent molecules.