which substance has the greatest intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules ?
1)propanone
2)ethanol
3)water
4)ethanoic acid
dont really understand, please help
it’s ethanoic acid
Look at the polarity of the molecule and hydrogen bonding.
To determine which substance has the greatest intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules, we need to consider the types of intermolecular forces present in each substance. The main types of intermolecular forces are London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces, and hydrogen bonding.
1) Propanone (also known as acetone) has London dispersion forces and dipole-dipole forces but lacks hydrogen bonding because it does not contain hydrogen atoms bonded to highly electronegative atoms (oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine).
2) Ethanol has London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces, and hydrogen bonding. The presence of hydrogen bonding is due to the presence of hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom (O-H bond).
3) Water has London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces, and exceptionally strong hydrogen bonding. Water molecules can form multiple hydrogen bonds between the oxygen of one water molecule and the hydrogen of another water molecule.
4) Ethanoic acid (also known as acetic acid) has London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces, and strong hydrogen bonding. Ethanoic acid contains a polar O-H bond, allowing it to form hydrogen bonds like ethanol.
Comparing the choices, both ethanol and ethanoic acid have hydrogen bonding, while propanone lacks it. However, water has exceptionally strong hydrogen bonding due to its ability to form multiple hydrogen bonds.
Therefore, among the given substances, water (option 3) has the greatest intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules.