Given below are two statements: Statement I : p -Dichlorobenzene has a higher melting point than its ortho and meta isomers because it is more symmetrical and fits better in the crystal lattice. Statement II : p -Dichlorobenzene has the highest boiling point among the three isomers because of its zero dipole moment. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Step-by-step solution

Statement I is correct. The melting point of a substance depends on the efficiency of molecular packing in its crystal lattice. The para-isomer of dichlorobenzene is more symmetrical than the ortho and meta isomers, allowing it to pack more closely in the solid state, which results in a significantly higher melting point. Statement II is incorrect. The boiling point of isomeric dihalobenzenes is governed primarily by intermolecular dipole-dipole interactions. The ortho-isomer has the highest dipole moment, leading