Which statement about hydrogen bonds is true?

• A. Hydrogen bonds can only form in nonpolar molecules.
• B. Hydrogen bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.
• C. Hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds but stronger than van der Waals interactions.
• D. Hydrogen bonds only occur between hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of hydrogen bonds: Hydrogen bonds are a type of weak chemical bond that occurs when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom (like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine) interacts with another electronegative atom nearby.
2. Compare hydrogen bonds to other types of bonds: Hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds, which involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms. However, they are stronger than van der Waals interactions, which are weak forces caused by temporary dipoles in molecules.
3. Clarify the conditions for hydrogen bond formation: Hydrogen bonds do not form exclusively in nonpolar molecules. They typically occur in polar molecules where there is a significant difference in electronegativity between the hydrogen atom and the atom it is bonded to.
4. Address the incorrect statements: Hydrogen bonds do not involve the sharing of electron pairs (this is characteristic of covalent bonds), and they do not occur exclusively between hydrogen and carbon atoms. Instead, they often involve hydrogen and highly electronegative atoms like oxygen or nitrogen.
5. Conclude with the correct statement: Based on the comparison and clarification, the correct statement is that hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds but stronger than van der Waals interactions.