Determine the kinds of intermolecular forces that are present in each element or compound. c. SiH₄

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1. Identify the molecular structure of SiH_4. Silicon (Si) is the central atom bonded to four hydrogen (H) atoms, forming a tetrahedral shape.
2. Determine the polarity of the Si-H bonds. Silicon and hydrogen have different electronegativities, but the difference is not large enough to make the bonds significantly polar.
3. Assess the overall polarity of the SiH_4 molecule. Due to its symmetrical tetrahedral shape, any dipole moments in the Si-H bonds cancel out, making SiH_4 a nonpolar molecule.
4. Identify the types of intermolecular forces present in nonpolar molecules. Nonpolar molecules like SiH_4 primarily exhibit London dispersion forces (also known as van der Waals forces).
5. Conclude that the only intermolecular forces present in SiH_4 are London dispersion forces, which are the weakest type of intermolecular force.