Which of the following intermolecular forces is the strongest?

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

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of intermolecular forces listed: London dispersion forces, ion-dipole interactions, dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding.
2. Recall the general strength order of intermolecular forces: London dispersion forces are usually the weakest, followed by dipole-dipole interactions, then hydrogen bonding, and ion-dipole interactions can vary depending on the ions and dipoles involved.
3. Understand that hydrogen bonding is a special, strong type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative atoms like nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine, leading to particularly strong attractions.
4. Compare ion-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding: ion-dipole forces can be very strong, especially in solutions with ions, but in many contexts, hydrogen bonding is considered stronger due to the directional and specific nature of the bond.
5. Conclude that among the given options, hydrogen bonding is generally recognized as the strongest intermolecular force because of its significant effect on physical properties like boiling points and solubility.