Answer to Question #302092 in General Chemistry for Hutchii

Question

Explain the term polarizability. What type of molecules tends to have high polarizabilities? What is the connection between polarizability and intermolecular forces?

Answer 1

Polarizability usually refers to the tendency of matter, when subjected to an electric field, to acquire an electric dipole moment in proportion to that applied field.

Larger molecules and molecules where the outermost electrons are further away from the nucleus tend to be the ones that are most easily polarized