Polar compounds can interact with water by forming which type of intermolecular force?

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

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the nature of water molecules: Water is a polar molecule with a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom.
2. Understand that polar compounds can interact with water through intermolecular forces that involve attraction between partial charges.
3. Recall the types of intermolecular forces: ionic bonds (between ions), metallic bonds (in metals), London dispersion forces (weak forces in all molecules), and hydrogen bonds (strong dipole-dipole interactions involving H bonded to N, O, or F).
4. Recognize that hydrogen bonds occur when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (like oxygen in water) interacts with a lone pair on another electronegative atom in a polar compound.
5. Conclude that polar compounds interact with water primarily through hydrogen bonding, which is a specific and strong type of dipole-dipole interaction.