AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry: Properties of small molecules
Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.2.2.4. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Properties of small molecules", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What physical state are substances made of small molecules usually in at room temperature?
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Gases or liquids, because they have relatively low melting and boiling points.
Why do substances made of small molecules have low melting and boiling points?
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Only weak intermolecular forces act between the molecules, so little energy is needed to overcome them.
Which forces are overcome when a small-molecule substance melts or boils?
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The weak intermolecular forces between molecules — not the covalent bonds within the molecules.
When a molecular substance boils, the ? are broken, not the covalent bonds.
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intermolecular forces
How does the size of a molecule affect its melting and boiling points?
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Larger molecules have higher melting and boiling points, because intermolecular forces increase with molecule size.
Intermolecular forces ? as the size of the molecules increases.
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increase
Why do small-molecule substances not conduct electricity?
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The molecules have no overall electric charge, so there are no charged particles free to carry current.
How does the strength of intermolecular forces compare with covalent bonds?
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Intermolecular forces are much weaker than covalent bonds.
Do covalent bonds break when a molecular substance like water boils?
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No — the covalent bonds stay intact; only the intermolecular forces between molecules are overcome.
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