Which type of intermolecular force is primarily responsible for the high boiling point of water (H_2O)?

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

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of intermolecular forces present in water (H\_2O). Water molecules are polar and can form hydrogen bonds due to the presence of highly electronegative oxygen atoms bonded to hydrogen.
2. Recall that London dispersion forces are weak forces present in all molecules but are not the primary cause of water's high boiling point because they are relatively weak compared to other forces.
3. Consider dipole-dipole interactions, which occur between polar molecules. Water does have dipole-dipole interactions, but these alone do not explain its unusually high boiling point.
4. Understand ion-dipole interactions occur between ions and polar molecules, which is not relevant here since pure water does not contain ions.
5. Recognize that hydrogen bonding is a special, strong type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine. This hydrogen bonding in water leads to a much higher boiling point compared to molecules of similar size without hydrogen bonding.