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Ch.11 - Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Chapter 11, Problem 83

Explain the observed trend in the melting points of the hydrogen halides.
HI -50.8 °C
HBr -88.5 °C
HCl -114.8 °C
HF -83.1 °C

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular forces are the attractive forces between molecules that influence physical properties such as melting and boiling points. In hydrogen halides, these forces include hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces. The strength and type of these forces vary among the hydrogen halides, affecting their melting points.
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Hydrogen Bonding

Hydrogen bonding is a specific type of strong dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative atoms like fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen. In the case of HF, the presence of hydrogen bonding significantly raises its melting point compared to other hydrogen halides, which primarily exhibit weaker dipole-dipole interactions.
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Molecular Size and Mass

The size and mass of molecules influence their melting points due to the increase in London dispersion forces with larger molecular size. As we move from HF to HI, the molecular weight increases, which generally leads to higher melting points. However, the presence of hydrogen bonding in HF complicates this trend, resulting in its unique position among the hydrogen halides.
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