London dispersion forces or Van der Waahls forces
London dispersion forces or Van der Waahls forces
A solid with weak intermolecular forces, such as those found in nonpolar molecules or small molecules, is likely to have the lowest melting point. These weak intermolecular forces are easily overcome by increasing temperature, causing the solid to melt.
The lowest melting point is of course - 39 0C.
Helium with a melting point of -272.905
The order from lowest to highest melting point is: CH4, NH3, H2S, Na2O, He.
W on the periodic table. the element with the highest melting/boiling point is tungsten.
Molecules with the lowest melting points are typically small, nonpolar molecules. These include gases like noble gases (e.g., helium, neon) or simple hydrocarbons (e.g., methane, ethane) that exhibit weak van der Waals forces. The minimal intermolecular forces in these substances result in lower melting points compared to larger or polar molecules with stronger interactions.
Generally, as the carbon chain length increases, the melting point of a compound also tends to increase. This is because longer carbon chains result in stronger intermolecular forces, such as London dispersion forces, leading to a higher melting point. Shorter carbon chains have weaker intermolecular forces, so they typically have lower melting points.
Melting and boiling points are higher when intermolecular forces (such as hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, or London dispersion forces) are stronger. These forces hold molecules together, so more energy is required to overcome them and change the state of the substance. Conversely, weaker intermolecular forces result in lower melting and boiling points.
A molecular solid is more likely to have a lower melting point than an ionic solid. This is because molecular solids are held together by weaker intermolecular forces such as van der Waals forces, while ionic solids have strong electrostatic forces between ions.
Helium has the lowest melting point of all the non-metals. It melts at a temperature of -272.2 degrees Celsius.
The melting point of a substance is primarily influenced by the strength of intermolecular forces present in its structure. Stronger intermolecular forces, such as hydrogen bonding or ionic interactions, typically result in higher melting points because more energy is required to overcome these forces during the transition from solid to liquid. Conversely, weaker forces like van der Waals (dispersion) forces lead to lower melting points. Thus, the type and strength of intermolecular forces play a crucial role in determining the melting point of a substance.