Question

The boiling point of HF is far higher than it would be if it fitted the trend in the rest of the group. That is because hydrogen fluoride can form hydrogen bonds. Using HF as an example, explain what hydrogen bonds are, and how they arise.

Answer 1

Hydrogen bonds are strong intermolecular forces that occur between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom with a lone pair of electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hydrogen bonds are strong intermolecular forces that occur between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom (such as O, N, or F) and another electronegative atom with a lone pair of electrons. These bonds arise due to the highly polar nature of the hydrogen atoms and the large difference in electronegativity between hydrogen and the electronegative atom. The small size of the hydrogen atom allows for close proximity between the dipoles, resulting in strong dipole-dipole interactions.