Question

Sort the following events by the dominant type of force overcome or formed. Intermolecular forces or Intramolecular forces.

1. The rubber in tires is covalently crosslinked through vulcanization

2. Soap is used to clean an oily mess

3. Ice Melts

4. H2 and O2 are combined in a fuel cell to form water

5. Water moves up a narrow tube due to capillary action

Answer 1

Dominant forces,

1. Rubber tires formed by covalent crosslinking through vulcanisation : Intramolecular forces, very strong bonds. Chemically formed.

2. Soap is used to clean an oily mess is an example of intermolecular forces between the micelle formed by soap and oil particulates.

3. Ice melting is an example of breaking of intermolecular hydroge bonding between H2O molecules.

4. H2 and O2 combine in a fuel cell is yet again a chemical reaction. Intramolecular covalent bonds between H2 and O2 are broken and intermolecular bond between H and O are formed.

5. Water moving up a narrow tube due to capillary action is an example of intermoelcular force also widely known as surface tension.