Which type of interaction occurs between an ion and a nonpolar molecule?

• A. Ion-dipole interaction
• B. Hydrogen bonding
• C. Dipole-dipole interaction
• D. Ion-induced dipole interaction

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of the species involved. An ion is a charged particle, while a nonpolar molecule has no permanent dipole moment (its charge distribution is symmetric).
2. Step 2: Recall the types of intermolecular interactions: ion-dipole (between an ion and a polar molecule), hydrogen bonding (a special dipole-dipole interaction involving H bonded to N, O, or F), dipole-dipole (between two polar molecules), and ion-induced dipole (between an ion and a nonpolar molecule).
3. Step 3: Since the molecule is nonpolar, it does not have a permanent dipole to interact with the ion, so ion-dipole and dipole-dipole interactions are not applicable.
4. Step 4: The ion's electric field can distort the electron cloud of the nonpolar molecule, inducing a temporary dipole moment in it. This leads to an ion-induced dipole interaction.
5. Step 5: Therefore, the correct interaction type between an ion and a nonpolar molecule is the ion-induced dipole interaction.