Why is iodine a solid at room temperature.
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Answers
ANSWER
Despite intermolecular forces being a weak individual force of attraction, collectively they are very strong and the numerous forces between iodine molecules means that more heat energy is required to break these intermolecular forces and separate the molecules therefore
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The molecules of each substance attract each other through dispersion (London) intermolecular forces.
Whether a substance is a solid, liquid, or gas depends on the balance between the kinetic energies of the molecules and their intermolecular attractions.
In fluorine, the electrons are tightly held to the nuclei. The electrons have little chance to wander to one side of the molecule, so the London dispersion forces are relatively weak.
As we move from fluorine to iodine, the electrons are further from the nuclei so the electron clouds can more easily distort. The London dispersion forces become progressively stronger.
At a low enough temperature the molecules will all be solids. At a high enough temperature they will all be gases.
It is only at temperatures between -7 °C and 59 °C that fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a solid, and iodine is a solid.