What forces occur in Methanol?

Methanol is held together by three forces. These forces are London Dispersion, Dipole-Dipole, and Hydrogen Bond.

London Dispersion is a force which exsists in all molecules but it very weak. It forms temporary dipoles by the motion of electrons around two atoms in a molecule. Although this charge is very weak, it allows the atoms in all molecules to be attracted to eachother.


Dipole-Dipole is a force that causes an electrostatic attraction occurs between the partially negative side on the molecule, with the patrially positive side of the molecule. The picture below shows the partially positive hydrogen being attracted to the partially negative oxygen in Methanol. The dotted line represents the electrostatic attraction between the hydrogen and the oxygen.

Hydrogn Bonding is a force that causes the hydrogen to become bonded to the nitrogen, oxygen, or flourine of the other molecule. In this molecule, the hydrogen become bonded to the oxygen. The picture below shows all hydrogen bonds with oxygen.