Answer to Question #175812 in Physics for Nicole

Question

Molecule with permanent dipoles can interact with other polar molecules through dipole-dipole interactions. Again, this is electrostatic in nature. The molrcular dipole vector points towards high electron density.

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

2. What have caused this type of strength in interaction?

Answer 1

1. The interaction among molecules in terms of strength follows inverse square law: the further the molecules, the weaker the interaction (at quadratic rate) becomes.
2. This is caused by the fact that all charged particles that form dipoles follow the inverse square law.