Structure & Reactivity III

Why are physical properties of alkanes predictable?

Solids, such as salts (ionic compounds), are rigidly held in a crystal lattice, mainly by strong _______ forces. Non ionic but polar molecules, such as chloromethane (CH3Cl), are attracted by weaker ______-______ interactions (also of ______ origin). Finally, the nonpolar alkanes attract each other by _______ forces, which are due to electron correlation.

Electron correlation

London forces are _____ in contrast to coulomb forces, which change with the ______ of the distance between charges, while London forces change with the _____ power of the distance between molecules.

At small distances