Answer to Question #175810 in General Chemistry for Nicole

Question

A 2-atom molecule collides with a 3-atom molecule. The electron cloud of the first molecule repels the electron cloud of the molecule it strikes, causing a displacement of some electron density away from the nucleus.

1. How will you describe the interaction among molecules in terms of strength?

2. What causes such interaction among molecules involve?

Answer 1

Solution: A 2-atom molecule collides with a 3-atom molecule. The electron cloud of the first molecule repels the electron cloud of the molecule it strikes, causing a displacement of some electron density away from the nucleus.

Answer: 1)How will you describe the interaction among molecules in terms of strength?

When two molecules approach each other very closely, the motion of the electrons in one of the molecules interferes with the motion of the electrons in the other, and the net result in an attractive force. The electrons moving about the nucleus in this second atom will often both be found momentarily on one side of the nucleus or both on the other side. They will tend synchronize to some extentwith the motion of the electrons in the other atom. Overall the will be a force of attraction between the atoms.

2. What causes such interaction among molecules involve?

Forces caused by the mutual instantaneous polarizaation of two molecules are called London forces.