Which of the following intermolecular forces is the strongest?

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

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the types of intermolecular forces listed: London dispersion forces, hydrogen bonding, ion-induced dipole forces, and dipole-dipole interactions. Each of these forces varies in strength based on the nature of the molecules involved.
2. Step 2: Recall that London dispersion forces are the weakest and arise from temporary fluctuations in electron distribution, present in all molecules but especially significant in nonpolar molecules.
3. Step 3: Recognize that dipole-dipole interactions occur between polar molecules where permanent dipoles attract each other, making them stronger than London dispersion forces but generally weaker than hydrogen bonds.
4. Step 4: Ion-induced dipole forces occur when an ion induces a dipole in a nonpolar molecule, which can be stronger than dipole-dipole interactions but typically not as strong as hydrogen bonding.
5. Step 5: Identify hydrogen bonding as a special, strong type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative atoms like nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine, resulting in the strongest intermolecular force among the options given.