Carbon dioxide (CO2) primarily exhibits London dispersion forces, which are a type of van der Waals force.
CO2 is a linear molecule made up of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Due to its symmetrical shape, the molecule does not have a permanent dipole moment, meaning it is nonpolar. As a result, the primary intermolecular forces present in CO2 are induced dipole-induced dipole interactions, commonly referred to as London dispersion forces.
These forces arise because of the temporary fluctuations in electron distribution within the molecule, which create instantaneous dipoles. Even though these forces are relatively weak compared to dipole-dipole interactions, they can still significantly affect the physical properties of the substance under certain conditions.
In summary, the main intermolecular force in CO2 is the London dispersion force, characteristic of its nonpolar nature.