Which of the following is the strongest type of intermolecular force that can exist between a polar solute and water as the solvent?

• A. Dipole-dipole interactions
• B. Ion-dipole interactions
• C. London dispersion forces
• D. Hydrogen bonding

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of intermolecular forces listed: dipole-dipole interactions, ion-dipole interactions, London dispersion forces, and hydrogen bonding.
2. Recall that water is a highly polar solvent capable of hydrogen bonding due to its O-H bonds and lone pairs on oxygen.
3. Understand that hydrogen bonding is a special, stronger type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine.
4. Compare the strength of the forces: London dispersion forces are the weakest, dipole-dipole interactions are stronger, ion-dipole interactions are stronger still, but hydrogen bonding is often the strongest among typical intermolecular forces involving polar molecules like water.
5. Conclude that when a polar solute capable of hydrogen bonding is dissolved in water, the strongest intermolecular force between them is hydrogen bonding.