Which of the following intermolecular forces is responsible for the boiling-point trends in alkanes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The boiling-point trends in alkanes can be explained by the strength of the intermolecular forces between the molecules. Alkanes only exhibit London dispersion forces (induced dipole-induced dipole interactions), as they do not contain polar bonds or hydrogen atoms bonded to electronegative atoms. The strength of these forces increases as the size of the molecule increases, due to the greater number of electrons which can form temporary dipoles. As a result, the boiling point increases as the size of the molecule increases. Therefore, option E - induced dipole-induced dipole - is the correct answer.

Which of the Following Intermolecular Forces Is Responsible for the Boiling-Point