Final answer:
The weakest force of molecular attraction listed is dispersion force, which is an intermolecular force arising from temporary dipoles in molecules. Dispersion forces are weaker than hydrogen bonds and dipole-dipole interactions, and they are the weakest compared to the other options given.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weakest of the forces of molecular attraction listed is the dispersion force, also known as London dispersion forces. These are temporary attractive forces that result from the constant motion of electrons within molecules, leading to an instantaneous distribution of electrons that creates temporary dipoles. Dispersion forces are weaker than both hydrogen bonds and dipole-dipole interactions because they exist due to induced dipoles in molecules without permanent dipole moments. Unlike covalent bonds, which are strong intramolecular forces, all these listed are intermolecular forces, with dispersion forces being the weakest among them.
To list these intermolecular interactions from weakest to strongest:
- Dispersion forces
- Dipole-dipole interactions
- Hydrogen bonds
Covalent network bonding is not an intermolecular force but a strong intramolecular force, and therefore it is not comparable in the context of the molecular attractions being discussed. Covalent network bonding forms strong bonds that hold atoms together within a molecule and is substantially stronger than intermolecular attractions.