MCAT General Chemistry Question 195: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 195

6. Particles with opposite charges attract one another and particles with like charges repel. How can protons, which are positively charged, coexist in the nucleus?

  • A. Gravitational forces
  • B. Electrostatic forces
  • C. London dispersion forces
  • D. Strong nuclear forces

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C For neon to form a solid, there must be intermolecular forces holding the atoms or molecules in relatively fixed positions. Gravitational force is given by F = G With the constant G on the order of 10-11 and the mass of neon on the order of 10-26, this force is negligible and choice A is eliminated. Electrostatic force is given by F = k Choice B is incorrect because neon is a neutral atom without any charge, so there are no significant electrostatic forces at play. Choice D is incorrect because strong nuclear forces act over a very small distance essentially limited to the size of the nucleus. Choice C is correct. Neon is a neutral molecule and has induced dipole-dipole interactions, also known as London dispersion forces. Because this is the weakest of the van der Waals forces, neon must be cooled down close to absolute zero before forming a solid.

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