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Consider a molecule such as pentane which is mostly attracted to other molecules by dispersion forces. If there is no heat and no fluctuations in electron positions how would a liquid or solid hold together?

I am not sure that zero point energy would work to keep this together.

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  • $\begingroup$ Your question is unclear to me $\endgroup$
    – user1420303
    Commented Jul 23, 2016 at 22:31
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    $\begingroup$ "no fluctuations in electron positions" - that's not true. Cooling doesn't change anything in this matter. $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    Commented Jul 23, 2016 at 22:48
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    $\begingroup$ As this is 'on hold' i can only comment. The dispersion energy is proportional to the square of the polarisability and to the ionisation energy and to inverse distance to 6th power. The polarisability is a measure of how easily a nearly (transient) dipole can distort the electrons in an atom or molecule. Iodine large effect, pentane small one. Thus the interaction energy has nothing to do with temperature. $\endgroup$
    – porphyrin
    Commented Jul 26, 2016 at 19:44

2 Answers 2

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  • You assume that absolute zero can be reached - but it is not possible.
  • You assume that at absolute zero the molecules would have any kinetic energy to drift apart - but they would not have.
  • You assume that absolute zero temperature means no fluctuation - I am not sure about that either.

In summary, you picked a non-physical state and you are trying to apply your physical intuition on it.

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Firstly, kinetic energy of electrons is greatest in the ground state of an atom or molecule.

But regarding your actual question, according to quantum electrodynamics, the vacuum consists of fluctuating electric fields. The electric field polarizes the atom or molecule, even in the ground state, and there is attraction between the polarized atoms or molecules.http://george.ph.utexas.edu/~dsteck/reading/casimir/milonni94.pdf

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