Which intermolecular force is primarily responsible for the dissolution of iodine (I_2) in nonpolar solvents?

• A. Dipole-dipole interactions
• B. Hydrogen bonding
• C. London dispersion forces
• D. Ion-dipole interactions

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the nature of the solute and solvent: Iodine (I_2) is a nonpolar molecule, and the solvent mentioned is nonpolar as well.
2. Recall that intermolecular forces depend on the polarity of molecules: polar molecules exhibit dipole-dipole interactions or hydrogen bonding, while nonpolar molecules primarily exhibit London dispersion forces.
3. Understand that dipole-dipole interactions occur between polar molecules, which is not applicable here since both iodine and the solvent are nonpolar.
4. Recognize that hydrogen bonding requires hydrogen atoms bonded to highly electronegative atoms (N, O, or F), which is not the case for iodine or the nonpolar solvent.
5. Conclude that the primary intermolecular force responsible for the dissolution of iodine in nonpolar solvents is London dispersion forces, which arise from temporary fluctuations in electron density creating instantaneous dipoles.