what is the difference between intermolecular forces and intramolecular forces

Hi,

Intermolecular forces are the forces between two different molecules. Intramolecular forces on the other hand are those which keep the molecule together i.e. are the forces holding the atoms together which form the molecule. Intramolecular forces are stronger than intermolecular forces. Intermolecular forces determine the physical property of a molecule.

Intramolecular forces are forces within a molecule (i.e., between atoms in a molecule) and intermolecular forces are forces between molecules. The prefix "intra" means within and the prefix "inter" means between.

So, intermolecular forces are the attractive or repulsive forces operating between the neighbouring molecules of a compound; intramolecular forces happen inside of the molecule, & are the forces operating within a molecule. These forces hold the atoms together in a molecule.

hope it helps..........

Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction or repulsion which exist between neighboring particles such as atoms or molecules in a compound.It holds all the molecules or atoms together in a compound. For example ,in HCl compound ,force of attraction between two or more HCl molecules is the intermolecular force.

… HCl…..HCl……HCl……HCl… where (……) represents intermolecular force

Intramolecular force is the attractive force between atoms or ions within a molecule which holds the atoms or ions together in an individual molecule.For example,

(a) HCl molecule itself is formed by single covalent bond between H and Cl atoms i.e H-Cl. This covalent bond holds H and Cl atoms together to form HCl molecule so here it is acting as intramolecular force.

(b) NaCl is formed by ionic bond between Na ⁺ and Cl ^- ions. This ionic bond holds the ions together so here it is acting as intramolecular force.

Intermolecular forces are weak as compared to intramolecular forces.

For example, the covalent bond present within HCl molecules is much stronger than the forces present between the neighboring HCl molecules, which exist when the molecules are sufficiently close to each other.

Inter-molecular forces are those forces that operate between two molecules of same substance or of different substance. For example, the forces that hold the particles of liquid together are intermolecular forces, whereas the forces involved within the molecule are known as intra-molecular forces. For example, the forces that keep the hydrogen and oxygen atoms bonded together in a water molecule are intramolecular forces.

When Force of interaction lies between atoms of the molecules. Such forces are called intra-molecular force.

When force of interaction lies between two similar or different molecules, it is called inter-molecular force.