Question

Name one chemical element that has the highest boiling point?

Answer 1

London dispersion forces:

• Intermolecular forces of London dispersion are the weakest form. They are created by random distortions in an atom's electron cloud.
• When such distortions occur, one side of the atom generates a partial negative charge, while the other side develops a partial positive charge.
• These partial charges will then polarise the electron cloud of a neighboring atom, causing another atom to develop partial charges.

• This indicates that the intensity of these partial charges is exactly proportional to the ease with which an atom's electron cloud may be deformed.

Noble gases:

• Noble gas atoms generally have only small London dispersion forces, which is why their boiling temperatures are so low in the first place.
• The intensity of the intermolecular interactions that exist between a substance's molecules (or atoms) influences how high that substance's boiling point is.
• Increased intermolecular forces → greater boiling point;
• Intermolecular forces are weaker. → reduced boiling point
• In this situation, Xenon has a large electron cloud. Furthermore, Xenon's outermost electrons are further away from the nuclei, implying that they are not firmly bound.
• Which is why Xenon has the highest boiling point.