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Chemistry / Re: Heavy Gases
« on: 02/02/2004 04:28:30 »
London dispersion forces are the forces of attraction between molecules that is due to temporary dipole movements of the electrons in the molecules. In any given molecule, electrons are moving around inside of the molecule. Sometimes the electrons are on one side of the molecule. At other times, they are on the opposite side of the molecule. This causes the molecule to become temporarily charged on opposite sides, like a tiny magnet.
This magnet-like state in the molecules causes the molecules to be weakly attracted to one another. These are called dispersion forces. This is what keeps all molecules held together in a substance. Some other substances have other forces holding them together as well, such as permanent polar dipole moments and hydrogen bonds.
This magnet-like state in the molecules causes the molecules to be weakly attracted to one another. These are called dispersion forces. This is what keeps all molecules held together in a substance. Some other substances have other forces holding them together as well, such as permanent polar dipole moments and hydrogen bonds.