What is the most significant force that attracts water molecules to each other?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 11, 2016

Hydrogen bonding.

Explanation:

Hydrogen bonding occurs where hydrogen is bound to a strongly electronegative element, e.g. #O# or #F#. Both #HF# and #OH_2# have disproportionately high boiling points, and #"H-bonding"# is responsible.

The heteratom polarizes electron density towards itself to give #""^(delta+)H-O^(delta-)-H^(delta+)#; when these dipoles align this is an extra intermolecular force that results in the high boiling point of water and hydrogen fluoride.

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