Answer to Question #118452 in Chemistry for Angelina

Question

What type of intermolecular force is responsible for the attraction between a polar molecule that induces a charge on a non-polar molecule?
Dipole-dipole
Ion-induced dipole
Ion-dipole

Answer 1

The attraction between a polar molecule that induces a charge on a non-polar molecule is dipole-dipole intermolecular force. More exactly, it is dipole-induced dipole intermolecular force. This force appears when a polar molecule (a molecule with a permanent dipole moment) distorts the electron cloud of a non-polar molecule in its vicinity, inducing a temporary dipole moment. One can also say that the polar molecule polarizes the non-polar molecule.