What type of intermolecular force is primarily responsible for the unusually high boiling point of water compared to hydrogen sulfide (H2S)?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Hydrogen bonding
- Step 1: Water possesses highly electronegative oxygen atoms bonded directly to hydrogen.
- Step 2: This creates strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds requiring substantial thermal energy to overcome, whereas H2S lacks hydrogen bonding due to sulfur's lower electronegativity.
Answer
Hydrogen bonding.
Why not the others: 'London dispersion forces' are present in all molecules but are actually larger in heavier H2S; 'Dipole-dipole interactions' are present in both but weaker than hydrogen bonds; 'Covalent network bonding' occurs in diamond or quartz, not liquid water.
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