CHEM 031 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: London Dispersion Force, Intermolecular Force, Atomic Orbital

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CHEM 031
• Professor: Alan Chant

Document Summary

Attractive forces that exist between all atoms and molecules. Chemical composition and molecular structure of chemical species are determined by the type and overall strength of these. Force that holds liquids and solids together, responsible for the existence of those phases/states of matter. If the atoms are neutral and electron density distribution is equal, and if those two atoms get close there"s an instantaneous dipole moment. Neutral atoms don"t act neutral, electrons reside to the opposite side from where the atoms get close. Leads to a partial + and - charge. These partial charges interact and create an induced dipole moment. Strength of interactions increase as the number of electrons in atoms and molecules increase. The bigger the molecule the bigger the interaction since there are more electrons, a bigger electron cloud, and a polarizable cloud. Explains why stable elements like noble gases still have boiling points. Ions from an ionic compound are attracted to the dipole of polar molecules.