What kind of intermolecular forces can form between two adjacent water molecules?

• A. Hydrogen bonds
• B. Metallic bonds
• C. Ionic bonds
• D. Covalent bonds

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of atoms present in a water molecule, which are hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
2. Understand that water molecules are polar, meaning they have a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom due to the difference in electronegativity between hydrogen and oxygen.
3. Recognize that hydrogen bonds are a type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (like oxygen) is attracted to another electronegative atom in a nearby molecule.
4. Consider the options given: Hydrogen bonds, Metallic bonds, Ionic bonds, and Covalent bonds. Recall that metallic bonds occur between metal atoms, ionic bonds occur between ions, and covalent bonds involve sharing of electrons between atoms within a molecule.
5. Conclude that the intermolecular force that can form between two adjacent water molecules is a hydrogen bond, as it involves the attraction between the partial positive charge on the hydrogen of one water molecule and the partial negative charge on the oxygen of another water molecule.