Question

Which statements regarding intermolecular interactions are true? [Select all that apply] a.Interactions between nonpolar molecules are due to transient distortions in the molecules' electron clouds. b.Nonpolar substances cannot form dispersion interactions. c.Only ions and polar molecules can form intermolecular interactions. d.Only ions can form intermolecular interactions e.All molecules can form intermolecular interactions. f.Interactions between nonpolar molecules are largely due to gravity. g.A substance with a low boiling point has weaker IMFs than a substance with a higher boiling point. h.Dispersion forces only exist between nonpolar substances.

Answer 1

The correct answers are a, e,g. The true statements about intermolecular interactions are that nonpolar molecules interact due to transient distortions in their electron clouds, all molecules can form interactions, and substances with lower boiling points have weaker intermolecular forces than those with higher boiling points.

Step-by-step explanation:

The true statements regarding intermolecular interactions are:

a. Interactions between nonpolar molecules are due to transient distortions in the molecules' electron clouds.

• e. All molecules can form intermolecular interactions.
• g. A substance with a low boiling point has weaker IMFs (intermolecular forces) than a substance with a higher boiling point.

Interactions between nonpolar molecules can indeed result from temporary fluctuations in electron density that create transient dipoles inducing similar dipoles in adjacent molecules. This type of interaction is known as London dispersion forces, and is present in all molecules, including nonpolar ones, making statement b and h incorrect. The claim that only ions and polar molecules form intermolecular forces is not true, invalidating statement c. Statement d is false because not only ions but also polar and nonpolar molecules can form intermolecular interactions. Statement f is incorrect as intermolecular forces between nonpolar molecules are not significantly due to gravity. Finally, substances with lower boiling points indicate weaker intermolecular forces compared to substances with higher boiling points; hence statement g is true.

Answer 2

True statements about intermolecular interactions include that nonpolar molecules interact due to transient electron cloud distortions and that all molecules can form intermolecular interactions. A lower boiling point indicates weaker IMFs and London dispersion forces exist in all substances, not just nonpolar ones. So the correct options are a,e, and g.

Step-by-step explanation:

The following statements regarding intermolecular interactions are true:

• Interactions between nonpolar molecules are due to transient distortions in the molecules' electron clouds.
• All molecules can form intermolecular interactions.
• A substance with a low boiling point has weaker intermolecular forces (IMFs) than a substance with a higher boiling point.

To elaborate, London dispersion forces, a type of van der Waals force, cause nonpolar molecules to experience temporary dipole-induced dipole interactions due to fluctuating electron densities, contrary to the statement that nonpolar substances cannot form dispersion interactions.

It's also incorrect to say that only ions and polar molecules can form intermolecular interactions, as all substances, including nonpolar ones, are capable of dispersion forces. Similarly, the assertion that only ions can form intermolecular interactions is false, as polar and nonpolar covalent molecules also participate in such interactions. Moreover, gravitational forces are too weak to significantly impact the behavior of molecules on such a small scale, making the statement about gravity incorrect.

Lastly, London dispersion forces exist not only between nonpolar substances but also in all substances to some extent, although they are the dominant force in nonpolar molecules.