Final answer:
Dispersion forces, or London dispersion forces, are weak intermolecular forces caused by temporary dipoles induced in atoms when there is an uneven distribution of electrons. This temporary polarity can then induce a similar temporary dipole in a neighboring nonpolar atom, resulting in a force that increases with the number of electrons in the atoms or molecules involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to dispersion forces, also known as London dispersion forces, that arise from the movement of electrons in atoms and molecules. When electrons are momentarily more concentrated on one side of an atom, an instantaneous dipole is created.
This temporary unequal distribution of electrons in one atom can induce a similar temporary shift in the electron distribution of a neighboring nonpolar atom, creating an induced dipole. The electrons moving randomly create temporary dipoles that result in dispersion forces between molecules. These interactions are weak and reduce rapidly with distance, operating by an inverse sixth power law according to quantum mechanics as expressed by the formula 1/r6.
This attraction forms the basis of the London dispersion force, which, although weak, plays a significant role in the interactions between nonpolar molecules, especially when no stronger intermolecular forces are present. The strength of dispersion forces increases with the number of electrons in the atoms or molecules involved, thus larger molecules with more electrons will exhibit stronger dispersion forces than smaller molecules with fewer electrons.