Question

Why are dispersion forces attractive?

   Why are dispersion forces attractive?

Chemistry for Engineering Students

Chemistry for Engineering Students

Larry Brown, Tom… 1st Edition

Chapter 8, Problem 40

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Emily Himsel

01/24/2023

Step 1

Dispersion forces, also known as London dispersion forces, are a type of weak intermolecular force that arises from temporary fluctuations in electron distribution within atoms or molecules. Show more…

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Why are dispersion forces attractive?

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Key Concepts

Intermolecular Forces

These are forces of attraction or repulsion between molecules, arising from the interactions of their electrical charges. They play a crucial role in determining the physical properties of substances, such as boiling and melting points, and include various types like dipole-dipole interactions, hydrogen bonding, and dispersion forces.

London Dispersion Forces

A type of intermolecular force that is present in all atoms and molecules, arising from the temporary fluctuations in electron density. These fluctuations produce instantaneous dipoles, which, in turn, induce dipoles in nearby particles, leading to a mutual attraction.

Instantaneous Dipoles

These are momentary and temporary dipoles that occur when the electron cloud in an atom or molecule is unevenly distributed at any given moment. This uneven distribution creates a transient dipole moment that is the initial cause behind London dispersion forces.

Induced Dipoles

When an instantaneous dipole in one atom or molecule causes a neighboring atom or molecule to develop a similar dipole, these become known as induced dipoles. The correlation step between these dipoles results in an attractive force between the particles, even though it is usually very weak.

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