Which is the weakest intermolecular force, considered as the Van der Waals force, often found in halogens, noble gases and other non-polar molecules?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) London dispersion forces.
· London dispersion forces are the weakest type of intermolecular force and are a subset of Van der Waals forces.
· These forces occur due to the temporary fluctuations in electron distribution within non-polar molecules or atoms, leading to the formation of instantaneous dipoles.
· As these dipoles induce neighbouring dipoles, they create a weak attraction between the molecules.
Additional Information:
· London dispersion forces are prevalent in noble gases (like helium, neon, and argon) and halogens (like chlorine and bromine), as well as in other non-polar molecules.
· These forces increase with the size and polarizability of the molecules; larger molecules have more electrons and can form stronger dispersion forces.
Other Options:
· Ion-dipole forces : These are stronger than London dispersion forces and occur between an ion and a polar molecule.
· Dipole-induced dipole forces : These forces arise when a polar molecule induces a dipole in a non-polar molecule, and they are stronger than London dispersion forces but weaker than dipole-dipole interactions.
· Dipole-dipole forces : These occur between polar molecules and are stronger than London dispersion forces.