[m rowe29]

Intermolecular forces (van der waals, hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole) hold molecules together. Atomic forces (covalent, ionic, dative, metallic) hold atoms together. Would it be right to say that when molecules melt it is the intermolecular forces being broken and when molecules boil it is the atomic forces breaking?

[knocker]

No.

When (simple) molecules melt some of the IMF's will break but when it boils ALL the IMF's will break. The covalent bonds ("atomic" forces) will still stay connected.

[Clare~Bear]

It's the intermolecular forces being broken for both.

[LegendX]

Never say the covalent bonds break ness they ask you for something like carbon which has a very high melting point due to its strong covalent bonds which are broken when it boils.