Question

Inert gases such as helium behave like ideal gases over a wide range of temperature. However they condense into the solid state at very low temperature there is a:

• A. Weak attractive forces between the atoms
• B. Weak repulsive force between the atoms
• C. Strong attractive force between the atoms
• D. Strong repulsive force between the atome

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Strong attractive force between the atoms

Option (C) is correct.

Inert gases condenses into the solid state at very low temperature as there is strong attractive force between the atoms.

In solid state, vander waals attractive forces are predominant between the atoms. The attractive force increases with the size of the atom as a result of the increase in polarizability and the decrease in ionization potential.