Question

Of the following, which is the dominant (strongest) type of intermolecular force present in RbCl(s)?

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Ionic

Explanation:

RbCl is ionic compound formed from the combination of rubidium (a strongly electropositive element) and chlorine (a strongly electronegative element).

The transfer of an electron from rubidium to chlorine leads to the formation of two oppositely charged ions Rb⁺ and Cl⁻.

In a solid crystal of RbCl, the major intermolecular forces of attraction are electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions in the molecules of the crystalline solid.

Ion-dipole attraction only occur when the solid is dissolved in a polar molecule like water. Dispersion forces as well as dipole-dipole forces, though present are weak forces and contribute very little to intermolecular attraction. Hydrogen bonding is not present as there are no hydrogen atoms in solid RbCl.