I know that polar molecules attract other polar molecules, but what about the non-polar molecules.
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No but non-polar molecules are soluble in non-polar solvents, and vice versa
Well fine sure I guess what you guys are saying is true, all molecules attract each other via, at minimum, london dispersion forces, but this is much weaker than a dipole-dipole interaction
Well fine sure I guess what you guys are saying is true, all molecules attract each other via, at minimum, london dispersion forces, but this is much weaker than a dipole-dipole interaction
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Yes, they most certainly do--by means of van der Waals forces. This is the reason why gases liquefy, and wax (alkanes) crystallize out on lowering the temperature.
It is due to instantaneous dipole induced dipole interactions.
Consider a molecule like H-H. Even though solving the Schrodinger equation will depict a symmetrical electron distribution, realize that this is the result of the time-independent Schrodinger equation. In real time, there are fluctuations and an instantaneous dipole is created. This motion of electrons in turn induces a correlation of electronic motion in neighboring molecules and a lowering of energy follows
It is due to instantaneous dipole induced dipole interactions.
Consider a molecule like H-H. Even though solving the Schrodinger equation will depict a symmetrical electron distribution, realize that this is the result of the time-independent Schrodinger equation. In real time, there are fluctuations and an instantaneous dipole is created. This motion of electrons in turn induces a correlation of electronic motion in neighboring molecules and a lowering of energy follows
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It is called London Forces. They used to be called VanderWaals forces. The attractions are do to momentary dipoles that attract each other. The greater the number of electrons the non-polar molecule has the greater the forces of attraction.
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no