Which statement about fluorine is correct based on the material?

• A. Predicted to be a gas at room temperature
• B. Predicted to be a liquid at room temperature
• C. Predicted to be a solid at room temperature
• D. Predicted to be a plasma at room temperature

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how temperature and intermolecular forces determine the state of matter. Fluorine exists as very small, nonpolar diatomic molecules (F2) with extremely weak London dispersion forces between them. Because of these weak attractions, fluorine has a very low boiling point (about −188°C). At room temperature, which is far above that point, the molecules have enough energy to stay apart as a gas. It isn’t a liquid or a solid at room temperature, and becoming a plasma would require much higher energy to ionize the molecules. This explains why fluorine is predicted to be a gas at room temperature.