Final answer:
Intermolecular forces rank from weakest to strongest as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding. The state and behavior of substances are affected by the strength of these forces, which are due to electron interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's questions revolve around the topic of intermolecular forces (IMF), which are essential for understanding the physical properties of substances. Hydrogen bonding is generally the strongest of the intermolecular forces, followed by dipole-dipole interactions and then London dispersion forces. Among these, London dispersion forces are generally considered the weakest. When it comes to subatomic particles, electrons are most responsible for intermolecular forces. This is because the electrostatic interactions between molecules arise from electron cloud fluctuations and the partial charges they create.
At room temperature, the state of matter for an element is determined by the strength of its intermolecular forces. Elements with stronger intermolecular forces are more likely to be solids or liquids, while those with weaker forces are likely to be gases. The relative strength of these forces also affects properties such as surface tension, viscosity, and phase transitions such as melting. For instance, ice melting involves absorption of heat to overcome these forces, which is why temperature changes can significantly affect the states of matter and behavior of liquids.