What term describes weak forces between molecules?

• A. Hydrogen Bond
• B. Ionic Bond
• C. Intermolecular Forces
• D. Covalent Bond

Answer: (C)

Weak forces between molecules are called intermolecular forces. These attractions act between separate molecules and are much weaker than the bonds that hold atoms together within a molecule, such as covalent or ionic bonds. Intermolecular forces help explain why substances have finite boiling and melting points, solubility, and other physical properties. Hydrogen bonding is a particularly strong type of intermolecular interaction, occurring when hydrogen is bonded to a highly electronegative atom like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine and is attracted to a lone pair on another molecule. But there are other kinds as well, such as London dispersion forces and dipole-dipole interactions. So the general term for these weak, between-molecule forces is intermolecular forces.