Which of the following is the strongest intermolecular force present between two molecules of water (H_2O)?

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

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of intermolecular forces listed: hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, London dispersion forces, and ion-dipole interactions.
2. Recall that water (H\_2O) is a polar molecule with a bent shape, where the oxygen atom is highly electronegative and bonded to hydrogen atoms.
3. Understand that hydrogen bonding occurs when hydrogen is directly bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine, creating a strong dipole and a special type of dipole-dipole interaction.
4. Compare the strengths of the intermolecular forces: London dispersion forces are the weakest, dipole-dipole interactions are stronger, hydrogen bonding is stronger than regular dipole-dipole, and ion-dipole interactions involve ions, which are not present between two neutral water molecules.
5. Conclude that the strongest intermolecular force between two water molecules is hydrogen bonding because of the direct O-H bonds and the high polarity of water.