Which liquid has the greatest intermolecular forces between water,nail polish remover, methylated spirits and ethanol
Go with H2O
Water
To determine which liquid has the greatest intermolecular forces, we need to compare the intermolecular forces present in each liquid. Intermolecular forces are the attractive forces between molecules and they determine the physical properties of substances.
In this case, we are comparing water, nail polish remover, methylated spirits, and ethanol.
Water (H2O) molecules are polar, meaning they have a slightly positive end (hydrogen) and a slightly negative end (oxygen). Water molecules are attracted to each other through hydrogen bonding, which is a strong intermolecular force. Hydrogen bonding occurs when the hydrogen atom of one water molecule is attracted to the oxygen atom of another water molecule.
Nail polish remover usually contains acetone (CH3COCH3). Acetone molecules have a dipole moment, making them polar. The intermolecular forces between acetone molecules are dipole-dipole forces. These forces are weaker than hydrogen bonding but still relatively strong.
Methylated spirits, also known as denatured alcohol, typically contains ethanol (C2H5OH). Ethanol is a polar molecule, like water, and it also forms hydrogen bonds. However, ethanol has a smaller dipole moment compared to water, so the strength of the hydrogen bonding is weaker in ethanol.
Finally, ethanol (C2H5OH) itself also exhibits hydrogen bonding, similar to water. However, as mentioned earlier, the dipole moment of ethanol is smaller than that of water. Therefore, while ethanol does have intermolecular forces, they are not as strong as in water.
Taking all this information into account, we can conclude that water has the greatest intermolecular forces among the given liquids. Water exhibits strong hydrogen bonding, which results in its unique properties such as high boiling point, surface tension, and cohesive behavior.