Question

What are the intermolecular forces involved with NH3?

Answer 1

Answer: The stongest intermolecular force between ammonia molecules is HYDROGEN BONDING.

Explanation:

As the Electronegetivity difference of Hydrogen (2.1) bonded to Nitrogen (3.0) is greater than 0.5 , the NH3 can be identified as a POLAR molecule. There is a partial positive charge on H, and partial negetive charge on N because of the difference in electronegativities. This charge separation within a molecule is called a dipole and the vector describing it is the dipole moment of the molecule.

i

Let's look at how does this affect the properties of ammonia. It affects the intermolecular forces than hold ammonia molecules to each other.

There are short-range forces, and are only significant when molecules are very close together. There are two types of van der Waals forces, dipole-dipole interactions and London or Dispersion forces.

There is one sort of dipole-dipole interaction which makes strong intermolecular interaction. Its called hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds require a hydrogen bond donor, H bonded to either F, O or N, and a hydrogen bond acceptor, O, N or F with lone pairs of electrons. Due to these hydrogen bonding molecules shows special properties like, higher Boiling point, heat capacity, mobility..etc.

NH3 is a good example for Hydrogen Bonding.