Which intermolecular force is primarily responsible for the high surface tension of water?

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

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that surface tension arises from the cohesive forces between molecules at the surface of a liquid, which resist external force and minimize surface area.
2. Identify the types of intermolecular forces present in water: London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding.
3. Recognize that water is a polar molecule with a bent shape, allowing for strong dipole-dipole interactions, but these alone do not account for its unusually high surface tension.
4. Focus on hydrogen bonding, which occurs when hydrogen is covalently bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, creating strong attractions between water molecules.
5. Conclude that hydrogen bonding is the primary intermolecular force responsible for water's high surface tension because it creates a strong network of interactions at the surface.