Questions: Molecules of four imaginary substances are sketched in the table below. Each sketch is shaded to show the electrostatic potential at the surface of the molecule. Rank these substances in decreasing order of the strength of the intermolecular forces in them. In other words, choose 1 next to the substance in which the molecules exert the strongest intermolecular forces on each other. Choose 2 next to the substance in which the molecules exert the second strongest intermolecular forces on each other, and so forth. Note: all of the molecules are neutral, and you may assume none of them experience hydrogen bonding.

Molecules of four imaginary substances are sketched in the table below. Each sketch is shaded to show the electrostatic potential at the surface of the molecule. Rank these substances in decreasing order of the strength of the intermolecular forces in them.

In other words, choose 1 next to the substance in which the molecules exert the strongest intermolecular forces on each other. Choose 2 next to the substance in which the molecules exert the second strongest intermolecular forces on each other, and so forth.
Note: all of the molecules are neutral, and you may assume none of them experience hydrogen bonding.

Transcript text: Molecules of four imaginary substances are sketched in the table below. Each sketch is shaded to show the electrostatic potential at the surface of the molecule. Rank these substances in decreasing order of the strength of the intermolecular forces in them. In other words, choose 1 next to the substance in which the molecules exert the strongest intermolecular forces on each other. Choose 2 next to the substance in which the molecules exert the second strongest intermolecular forces on each other, and so forth. Note: all of the molecules are neutral, and you may assume none of them experience hydrogen bonding.

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understand the Problem

We need to rank four substances based on the strength of their intermolecular forces, using their electrostatic potential maps. The substances are neutral and do not experience hydrogen bonding.

Step 2: Analyze Electrostatic Potential Maps

Electrostatic potential maps show regions of positive and negative charge. Stronger intermolecular forces are typically associated with larger differences in electrostatic potential, indicating stronger dipole-dipole interactions or stronger London dispersion forces.

Step 3: Rank the Substances

Without the actual images of the electrostatic potential maps, we can only provide a general approach:

Identify the substance with the largest difference in electrostatic potential (strongest dipole-dipole interactions).
Identify the substance with the second largest difference.
Continue this process for the remaining substances.