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Chemistry Stoody Guide

London Dispersion Forces

  1. Describe the origin of London Dispersion Forces

What The Hell Even IS IMF?

Intermolecular Force (IMF): When two particles experience IMF, a positive charge on one particle is attracted to a negative charge on another.

LDF

  • LDFs exist for all substances, and arise from some temporary polarities across an atom, when electrons “slosh” around
  • An instantaneous polarity in one molecule may induce an opposing polarity in an adjacent molecule.
  • Molecules with higher molecular weights have larger numbers of electrons, and therefore are more deformable by nearby charges.
  • Molecules with more electrons have higher LDFs, and thereby higher melting points, boiling points, and enthalpy of vaporizations.

LDF