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ICl is a polar molecule and Br2 is a non-polar molecule. Which molecule will have a higher boiling point?

A. ICl
B. Br_2
C. Both ICl and Br_2 will have the same boiling point.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

ICl will have a higher boiling point than Br₂ because it is a polar molecule with dipole-dipole attractions in addition to London dispersion forces, which require more energy to overcome compared to the only dispersion forces present in nonpolar Br₂.

Step-by-step explanation:

Predicting the higher boiling point between ICl and Br₂ involves understanding the intermolecular forces at play. ICl and Br₂ have similar molar masses but differ in polarity. ICl is a polar molecule which means it has a net dipole due to an unequal distribution of electrons.

This gives rise to dipole-dipole attractions in addition to the London dispersion forces which Br₂ (a nonpolar molecule) solely relies on. Dipole-dipole interactions are generally stronger than dispersion forces, leading to a higher boiling point for ICl. Hence, ICl will have the higher boiling point compared to Br₂, which does not have dipole-dipole attractions.

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