Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 11: Problem 16

A fellow student says, "All substances experience London dispersion forces of attraction between particles." Is this statement true? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Yes, the statement is true. All substances experience London dispersion forces because these forces are a result of temporary shifts in the distribution of electrons in atoms or molecules, creating temporary dipoles. This can occur in any substance, regardless of whether it is polar or nonpolar.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding London Dispersion Forces

London Dispersion Forces (LDFs) are a type of intermolecular force that exists in all substances. These forces are temporary attractive forces that result when the electrons in two adjacent atoms occupy positions that make the atoms form temporary dipoles.
02

Explaining LDF occurrence

These forces occur in all substances, whether they are polar or nonpolar, and are the only forces that occur between nonpolar atoms and molecules. Therefore, it is safe to say that they occur in all substances.
03

Final Analysis

Based on the characteristics of London Dispersion Forces, it can be stated that all substances do indeed experience these forces due to the inherent nature of their atomic or molecular structures. The vagary of electron movement can cause any atom or molecule, regardless of its polarity, to experience this sort of temporary force.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

What is surface tension?

Contrast ionic and molecular substances in terms of the types of attractive forces that govern their behavior.

The enthalpy of vaporization of butane, \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{10},\) is 22.44 \(\mathrm{kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\) , and the entropy of vaporization is 82.2 \(\mathrm{J} / \mathrm{mol} \cdot \mathrm{K}\) .

Explain why liquid water at 273.0 \(\mathrm{K}\) will not melt in terms of Gibbs energy.

What is meant by the statement that a liquid and its vapor in a closed container are in a state of equilibrium?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free