Chemistry / Unit 8 Chem 1364 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Intermolecular vs. Intramolecular Forces
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The idea
Intramolecular forces hold one molecule's own atoms together; intermolecular forces are the weaker attractions between neighboring molecules.
In practice
Boiling one mole of liquid HCl needs about 17 kilojoules; breaking its H-Cl bond needs about 430 kilojoules instead.
Where people slip
"Intra-" and "inter-" differ by one prefix but describe forces roughly twenty-five times apart in strength.
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