Which type of intermolecular force is primarily responsible for the interactions in HF?

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

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of atoms involved in the molecule HF. HF consists of hydrogen (H) and fluorine (F).
2. Recognize that hydrogen bonding is a special type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, such as fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen.
3. Understand that in HF, the fluorine atom is highly electronegative, creating a significant dipole moment in the molecule. This results in a strong attraction between the hydrogen atom of one HF molecule and the fluorine atom of another.
4. Differentiate between the types of intermolecular forces: Ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons and occurs between metals and nonmetals, which is not the case here. London dispersion forces are weak and occur in all molecules, but are not the primary force in HF.
5. Conclude that the primary intermolecular force responsible for the interactions in HF is hydrogen bonding, due to the presence of hydrogen bonded to a highly electronegative fluorine atom.