An unknown substance visually appears to be a white powder. The substance is analyzed in the laboratory and its melting point is found to be 264 °C. What can you predict about the intramolecular forces and intermolecular forces in this substance?

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Explanation:

The substance under analysis must be a polar organic substance of high molecular mass. We must remember that as the magnitude of dispersion forces increases with increase in molecular mass, the melting point increases accordingly. Also polar organic substances have very high melting points due to the presence of polar bonds in the molecule..

Hence the intramolecular forces in the substance are covalent bonds while the intermolecular forces are both dispersion forces and dipole forces.

The substance may likely be 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin which a white powder and melts at 264 °C.