The intermolecular force of H₂CO is dipole-dipole force.
Dipole-dipole force as an intermolecular force
Dipole-dipole forces are attractive intermolecular forces that exist between the positive end of one polar molecule and the negative end of another polar molecule.
- In order for dipole-dipole forces to be present, a molecule must be polar.
- The positive end of one molecule is attracted to the partial negative end of another
H₂CO as a polar molecule
H₂CO is a polar molecule due to the differences in the electronegativity of carbon and oxygen.
Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, hence, some negative charge is induced on the oxygen atom and a partial positive charge is induced on the carbon atom.
The induced positive and negative charges generates the dipole moment directed from carbon to oxygen atom.
Therefore, molecules of H₂CO are held together by dipole-dipole attractions between the oxygen and carbon atoms.
Learn more about intermolecular forces at: https://brainly.com/question/13588164
