The following table lists the boiling points of compounds of similar structures. Explain the general trend, and explain the cause of the trend.
Answer (2)
The boiling points of methyl halides increase from CH₃F to CH₃I due to stronger London dispersion forces caused by the increasing size and polarizability of the halogen atoms. This trend results from larger halogens like iodine having more electrons, leading to stronger intermolecular attractions. Thus, more energy is needed to convert these liquids into gases as we go from fluorine to iodine.
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The boiling point increases from CH₃F to CH₃I because the size and polarizability of the halogen atom increase, leading to stronger London dispersion forces between molecules. ;
