Question

In a mixture of trimethylamine and water, which intermolecular force(s) are operative between the two compounds? Select all that apply.

a.London dispersion
b.dipole-dipole
c.hydrogen bonding
d.dipole-induced dipole
e.ion-ion
f.ion-dipole

Answer 1

In a mixture of trimethylamine and water, the intermolecular forces include hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces due to the polar nature of both compounds and the ability of water to form hydrogen bonds with the nitrogen atom in trimethylamine.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a mixture of trimethylamine and water, the operative intermolecular forces between the two compounds include hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces. Trimethylamine is a molecule with a permanent dipole due to its nitrogen atom, which has a lone pair of electrons, making it slightly negative, while its methyl groups are slightly positive.

Water, being a highly polar molecule, can engage in hydrogen bonding with the nitrogen atom of trimethylamine. Moreover, both trimethylamine and water exhibit London dispersion forces due to momentary shifts in electron density, which are universal among molecules. Dipole-dipole interactions also occur due to the attraction between the positive hydrogen atoms in water and the negative nitrogen atom in trimethylamine.