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What intermolecular force does water have?

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Final answer:

Water features strong hydrogen bonds, which are the primary intermolecular forces responsible for its unique properties. These hydrogen bonds are supplemented by dipole-dipole attractions and London dispersion forces, and their effects vary with temperature changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water molecules exhibit strong intermolecular forces known as hydrogen bonding. These forces occur due to the water molecule's ability to form hydrogen bonds between the positive end (hydrogen atoms) and the negative end (oxygen atom) of different water molecules. Besides hydrogen bonding, water also exhibits other intermolecular forces such as dipole-dipole attractions and the weaker London dispersion forces.

The hydrogen bond is the strongest intermolecular force in water, giving it unique properties such as high boiling point and surface tension. This hydrogen bonding occurs when the partially positive hydrogen atoms of one water molecule are attracted to the partially negative oxygen atoms of another water molecule.

At higher temperatures, the kinetic energy of water molecules increases, reducing the effects of intermolecular forces and leading to decreased surface tension and viscosity. Conversely, at lower temperatures, the kinetic energy decreases, making intermolecular forces more pronounced and increasing the liquid's viscosity.

User Rsano
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Water is known to be the universal solvent because it can mostly dissolve most of the substances. The reason behind its solvability is the bonding of intermolecular forces of attraction. Out of the many bondings between molecules, the bond that governs water or the intermolecular force that it has is H bonding or hydrogen bonding. Water is composed mostly of two atoms of hydrogen one atom of oxygen. Both the hydrogen and oxygen are polar elements and hydrogen is bounded with a high electronegativity oxygen atom.

User Pankwood
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