Question

What is the difference between a bond and an intermolecular interaction?

Answer 1

A bond involves the swapping of electrons, transfer, etc, like a covalent or ionic bond.

An intermolecular interaction isn't necessarily a bond, but rather a charge that keeps atoms near each other. For example, a glass can swell at the top without overflowing or you can have a meniscus in your graduated cylinder because water sticks to the sides. These are intermolecular interactions, not bonds. An example are London Dispersion Forces. These are intermolecular interactions that control the melting and boiling temperatures of compounds.

Think, if molecules didn't interact with each other, what's holding them together? Why don't they just fly off? Because they interact with each other, we have the states of matter! We need so much heat to give them energy, just so that their own motion can break these forces and cause them to change state. 

also i haven't taken chemistry so idk what im doing oops