Intermolecular forces

Observe how molecules interact and why physical properties differ.

Developed by Dr. Georgios Malis

100% offline · HTML

Water · H₂O

Intermolecular interactions in motion

Running

SIMPLIFIED MOLECULAR MODEL

Dashed lines represent intermolecular attraction

Oxygen Hydrogen Other atoms Intermolecular interaction

Visible interactions0This snapshot

Molecular contacts0During the simulation

Type of attractionH-bond+ London forces

Linking microscopic behavior to properties

Compare two substances

Classroom question

Check your understanding

Select an answer to see the explanation.

TEACHING NOTE The visualization is qualitative and schematic: it is not a molecular dynamics simulation, does not use real time or energy scales, and cannot quantitatively predict boiling points. The number of lines depends on the arrangement and visual rules of this model, not an experimentally measured interaction strength. London forces coexist with other interactions. “Hydrogen bond” here means an intermolecular interaction, not a covalent O–H or N–H bond.