What is the difference between #"intermolecular"# and #"intramolecular bonding"#?

1 Answer
Nov 26, 2016

Of course it is the difference between #"inter"# and #"intra"#, which you could look up in a dictionary.

Explanation:

Let's look at the water molecule, #OH_2#, which has a fairly high boiling point, due to hydrogen bonding between molecules, equivalently due to #"intermolecular bonding"#.

#"Intermolecular bonding"# reflect the interaction between molecules; the molecules remain intact, and thus the greater the intermolecular force, the greater the boiling point. The water and ammonia molecules have exceptionally high boiling point due to the effect of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding. #"Intramolecular bonding"# relates to the forces WITHIN molecules, i.e. the strength of the #O-H# or #N-H# bonds lie in the domain of #"intramolecular bonding"#.