Summary of dispersion forces in hydrocarbons (1 Viewer)

[SadCeliac]

As the carbon chain increases, so does the number of electrons in the molecule. This increases the potential for temporary attractions between random temporary dipoles caused by the added electron movement, hence increasing the strength of dispersion forces.

Is this right???

 

[wizzkids]

Yes, you nailed it.
The only thing that we should add is the shape factor - the dispersion forces increase as the chain length increases, and they fall as the degree of branching increases hence the molecule tends to become more spherical in shape.