Which of the following molecules contains atoms that could participate in hydrogen bonding with water?

• A. CO2
• B. CCl4
• C. CH4
• D. NH3

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that hydrogen bonding occurs when a hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), or fluorine (F), and this hydrogen can interact with lone pairs on electronegative atoms in other molecules like water.
2. Examine each molecule to identify if it contains N, O, or F atoms bonded to hydrogen, which is necessary for hydrogen bonding with water:
3. - CO2 has oxygen atoms but no hydrogen atoms bonded to oxygen, so it cannot form hydrogen bonds with water.
4. - CCl4 has carbon bonded to chlorine atoms, but no hydrogen atoms bonded to electronegative atoms, so it cannot form hydrogen bonds.
5. - CH4 has hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon, which is not electronegative enough to participate in hydrogen bonding.
6. - NH3 has nitrogen bonded to hydrogen atoms, and nitrogen is electronegative with lone pairs, so it can form hydrogen bonds with water.