Chemistry Regents Practice Test 2026 – Complete Prep Resource

Intermolecular forces are best defined as the forces of attraction or repulsion between nearby molecules. These forces play a crucial role in determining the physical properties of substances, such as boiling and melting points, viscosity, and surface tension.

Understanding that these forces exist between molecules, rather than within a single molecule, is essential. For example, while covalent bonds hold the atoms within a molecule together, intermolecular forces govern how those molecules interact with each other. Additionally, intermolecular forces can include a variety of interactions such as hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces, all of which contribute to the collective behavior of substances in different states of matter.

Recognizing that intermolecular forces can attract or repel molecules helps explain phenomena like why water has a higher boiling point compared to other similar-sized molecules; it is the strong hydrogen bonds between water molecules that lead to this higher boiling point. On the other hand, the other options either confuse these forces with intramolecular forces, limit the context to specific types of compounds, or inaccurately suggest that they are only attractive, which does not encompass the full range of these interactions.