inter/intra

[John-Dong Yanagida 2I]

hello!
i am a bit confused on what is the difference between inter and intramolecular forces? is the hydrogen bonding of hydrogen to NOF elements the same as it is covalent? sorry if this is a bit confusing, as i am confused as well.

[Valerie Ayzenberg 1I]

The difference between intermolecular and intramolecular forces is where they are located relative to the molecule. Intermolecular forces are the attractions that occur between two molecules while intramolecular forces are the attractions that occur within molecules. For example, covalent bonds are intramolecular forces because they hold the atoms in a molecule together while hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals are intermolecular forces because they hold molecules together.

To answer your question, hydrogen bonding actually refers to the bonding or attracting of a hydrogen atom in one molecule to an electronegative atom in another molecule. However, hydrogen needs to be bonded to N, O, or F for hydrogen bonding to occur, but that is not the actual hydrogen bonding, since hydrogen bonding is an intermolecular force.