Which of the following statements is true of London dispersion forces?
A) London dispersion forces are stronger between the molecules of 1-butanol than between the molecules of 2-methyl-2-propanol.
B) London dispersion forces are weaker than hydrogen bonding interactions.
C) London dispersion forces are stronger between the molecules of 1-butanol than between the molecules of 2-methyl-2-propanol and are weaker than hydrogen bonding interactions.
D) None of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

London dispersion forces are the weakest intermolecular force and occur between all molecules. However, they are dependent on the size and shape of a molecule. In this case, 1-butanol is larger than 2-methyl-2-propanol and has more surface area for the formation of London dispersion forces. Therefore, London dispersion forces are stronger between the molecules of 1-butanol than between the molecules of 2-methyl-2-propanol. Hydrogen bonding interactions are stronger than London dispersion forces but only occur between molecules that contain hydrogen bonded to nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine. 1-butanol has a hydroxyl group, which can participate in hydrogen bonding, making this intermolecular force stronger than the London dispersion forces between 1-butanol molecules.

Which of the Following Statements Is True of London Dispersion