[widemind]

Is there a basic way to explain dispersion forces?  Can you give some examples?  Do all molecules have dispersion forces?  We're trying to figure out the differences between dipole, dispersion forces, and hydrogen bonds.... We've got Hydrogen bonds ok - and pretty close on dipole to its understanding.. but we haven't a clue with dispersion.... How do we know if something has dispersion force?

Thanks

[tamim83]

Every molecule has dispersion forces, which are the weak intermolecular forces caused by the distortion of the molecule's electron cloud due to electron-electron repulsions.  When one molecule moves close to another, the electron clouds repel one another creating a temporary dipole for each molecule.  These temporary "dipoles" attract one another.