How do London dispersion forces work?

1 Answer
anor277
Nov 25, 2017

#"London forces"# or #"dispersion forces"# are intermolecular forces of attraction that result from the unequal distribution of electronic charge.

Explanation:

For a given, NEUTRAL atom, a transient UNEQUAL electronic distribution might result in a transient UNEQUAL electronic distribution in a neighbouring atom....and this transient UNEQUAL electronic distribution in the neighbouring atom may result in a transient UNEQUAL electronic distribution in another atom. And so on, and so on....

And this intermolecular force is presumed to operate for the #"Noble Gases"#, and their respective boiling points nicely illustrates the dependence of the intermolecular force upon THE NUMBER of electrons...

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Anyway look up the boiling points of the Noble Gases....

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