A Stay-at-Home Chemistry Activity to Illustrate Intermolecular Forces

Abstract

Water and an immiscible organic liquid are placed in a small plastic bottle. Ten small pieces of a notecard which is shaded on one side by crayon or pencil (graphite or colored) are cut out and placed inside the bottle. After capping and shaking, the notecard pieces float at the liquid–liquid interface with the shaded side facing the nonpolar organic solvent. This activity uses simple and easily obtained consumer materials and has been used with students from elementary school through introductory college to illustrate the concept of noncovalent (intermolecular) forces.