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

• A. London dispersion forces
• B. Ion-dipole interactions
• C. Dipole-dipole interactions
• 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 especially significant in nonpolar molecules; they are not the primary force in water's high boiling point.
3. Understand that ion-dipole interactions occur between ions and polar molecules, which is not the case for pure water as it contains no ions.
4. Recognize that dipole-dipole interactions occur between polar molecules, but hydrogen bonding is a special, stronger type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to N, O, or F.
5. Conclude that hydrogen bonding is the primary intermolecular force responsible for water's unusually high boiling point because it creates strong attractions between water molecules, requiring more energy to break.