Clathrate hydrate research is done by Professor Ken Janda here at UC Irvine. Look up clathrate hydrate

with a general search of the internet and at Professor Janda's Research. Look at text and structures posted on
the Gas Hydrate Home and the Clathrate Hydrate Structure webpages (make sure you scroll all the way to
the bottom). The ethyl (CH3CH2–) end of the ethanol molecule (CH3CH2OH) is behaving much like
the propane (CH3CH2CH3) and methane (CH4) gases that Prof. Janda's group uses to form clathrates.

These hydrocarbons(propane, methane, and ethyl) are all nonpolar and, therefore, do not contain any significant
dipoles.

The (water, hydrocarbon) creates a cage where the water is the (host, guest)
for/of the hydrocarbon.
Clathrate hydrate research is done by Professor Ken Janda here at UC Irvine. Look up clathrate hydrate
with a general search of the internet and at Professor Janda's Research. Look at text and structures posted on
the Gas Hydrate Home and the Clathrate Hydrate Structure webpages (make sure you scroll all the way to
the bottom). The ethyl (CH3CH2–) end of the ethanol molecule (CH3CH2OH) is behaving much like
the propane (CH3CH2CH3) and methane (CH4) gases that Prof. Janda's group uses to form clathrates.

These hydrocarbons(propane, methane, and ethyl) are all nonpolar and, therefore, do not contain any significant
dipoles.

The (water, hydrocarbon) creates a cage where the water is the (host, guest)
for/of the hydrocarbon.

A. dipole-dipole forces
B. hydrogen bonding
C. London Dispersion forces
D. no intermolecular interaction exists

water, host

london Dispersion forces

Based on the information provided, the (water, hydrocarbon) creates a cage where the water is the (host, guest) for/of the hydrocarbon.

To understand the intermolecular interactions involved in this clathrate hydrate formation, we need to consider the nature of the molecules involved.

First, let's consider the water molecule. Water, or H2O, is a polar molecule due to the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen atoms. It has a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom.

Now, let's look at the hydrocarbon molecules mentioned - propane (CH3CH2CH3), methane (CH4), and ethyl (CH3CH2–). These molecules are all nonpolar because the electronegativity difference between carbon and hydrogen atoms is relatively small, resulting in an almost symmetrical distribution of electron density.

Given that both water and hydrocarbon molecules are nonpolar, we can exclude dipole-dipole forces and hydrogen bonding as the intermolecular interactions involved in clathrate hydrate formation.

The main intermolecular force that can be present between nonpolar molecules is London Dispersion forces. These forces arise from temporary fluctuations in electron distribution, creating instantaneous dipoles in molecules. While relatively weak, London Dispersion forces can still contribute to intermolecular interactions between nonpolar molecules.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. London Dispersion forces. This type of intermolecular force allows the water molecules to form a cage-like structure around the nonpolar hydrocarbon molecules in clathrate hydrates.