Final answer:
Iodine has a higher melting point than fluorine because it has stronger dispersion forces resulting from its larger size and greater number of electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Iodine (₂) has a higher melting point than fluorine (₂) because the dispersion forces are strongest for iodine molecules due to their larger size and greater number of electrons. These forces are what hold iodine molecules close together in the solid state at room temperature. In comparison, fluorine and the other lighter halogens like chlorine and bromine have progressively weaker dispersion forces, which is why they have lower melting and boiling points, with fluorine and chlorine existing as gases at room temperature, and bromine as a liquid.