Question

In one to two sentences, describe an experiment that would show that intramolecular forces (attractions between atoms within molecules) are stronger than intermolecular forces (attractions between molecules). Make your answer simple, coherent, and intended for 9th grade.

Answer 1

Heat liquid water until it boils and collect the steam — the water molecules separate into a gas but remain H2O, showing that the intermolecular forces between molecules are broken. Breaking the actual O–H bonds inside each molecule needs much more energy (for example by electrolysis), so intramolecular forces are stronger than intermolecular forces.