In diagrams of water molecules, what does the dotted line between two molecules typically represent?

• A. A van der Waals interaction
• B. An ionic bond
• C. A covalent bond
• D. A hydrogen bond

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the types of interactions that can occur between water molecules: covalent bonds, ionic bonds, van der Waals interactions, and hydrogen bonds.
2. Recall that within a single water molecule, the oxygen and hydrogen atoms are connected by covalent bonds, which are strong bonds involving shared electrons.
3. Recognize that ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons between atoms, which is not typical between neutral water molecules.
4. Know that van der Waals interactions are weak, non-specific attractions between molecules but are not usually represented by dotted lines in water molecule diagrams.
5. Identify that the dotted line between two water molecules typically represents a hydrogen bond, which is a special type of dipole-dipole attraction between the hydrogen atom of one molecule and the electronegative oxygen atom of another.