Which intermolecular force is primarily responsible for causing surface tension in liquids?

• A. Ionic bonding
• B. Hydrogen bonding
• C. London dispersion forces
• D. Metallic bonding

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that surface tension in liquids arises due to the cohesive forces between molecules at the surface, which cause the surface to behave like a stretched elastic membrane.
2. Identify the types of intermolecular forces listed: ionic bonding, hydrogen bonding, London dispersion forces, and metallic bonding. Note that ionic and metallic bonding are types of intramolecular forces, not intermolecular forces.
3. Recognize that London dispersion forces are weak intermolecular forces present in all molecules but are generally not strong enough alone to cause significant surface tension in most liquids.
4. Focus on hydrogen bonding, which is a strong type of dipole-dipole interaction occurring when hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine, leading to strong cohesive forces between molecules.
5. Conclude that hydrogen bonding is primarily responsible for the high surface tension observed in liquids like water, because it creates strong intermolecular attractions at the surface.