Ionic - Polar - Nonpolar
Attractive Forces Flowchart
Is substance ionic or molecular?
Ionic
(it has a metal or NH4+1)
molecular
Substance is ionic
ionic & dispersion forces and
ion-dipole interactions
when dissolved in water
(no metal or NH4+1)
Draw a Lewis Structure
Does it contains at least 1 polar
bond?
(subtract electronegativity to decide)
yes
no
Substance is nonpolar
dispersion forces only
Can you separate
the + and – side?
(Consider shape carefully!)
no
yes
Substance is nonpolar
has dispersion forces only
Substance is polar
Contains H-F, H-O or H-N bonds?
yes
H bonding
and dispersion forces
no
dipole and dispersion forces