What is electronegativity and how does it affect interactions between water molecules?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 5, 2017

Electronegativity is conceived to be the ability of an atom involved in a chemical bond to polarize electron density towards itself.

Explanation:

For water, or hydrogen fluoride, we could represent this charge separation, this polarity, as #""^(+delta)"H"-"O"^(delta-)-"H"^(delta+)# or #""^(-delta)"F"-"H"^(delta+)#. In the gaseous phase or the liquid phase these dipoles are free to align, and this constitutes a potent INTERMOLECULAR force. This extra intermolecular force contributes to the elevated normal boiling points of water and hydrogen fluoride, which are #100# #""^@C# or #19.5# #""^@C#.

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