Which type of intermolecular force is generally considered the strongest?

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

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that intermolecular forces are attractions between molecules that affect physical properties like boiling points and solubility.
2. Review the types of intermolecular forces listed: London dispersion forces (weakest, present in all molecules), dipole-dipole interactions (between polar molecules), hydrogen bonding (a special, stronger type of dipole-dipole involving H bonded to N, O, or F), and ion-dipole interactions (between ions and polar molecules).
3. Recognize that ion-dipole interactions occur when an ion interacts with a polar molecule, which generally creates a stronger attraction than hydrogen bonding because ions have full charges, while hydrogen bonding involves partial charges.
4. Compare the relative strengths: London dispersion < dipole-dipole < hydrogen bonding < ion-dipole, with ion-dipole being the strongest among the options given.
5. Conclude that ion-dipole interactions are generally considered the strongest type of intermolecular force listed in this problem.