Final answer:
The intermolecular interaction between ethanol and water is hydrogen bonding, facilitated by the polar nature of both substances and their ability to form bonds involving the oxygen and hydrogen atoms, leading to a uniform mixture and solubility of ethanol in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The intermolecular interaction between ethanol and water involves hydrogen bonding, which is a type of intermolecular force. Ethanol can form hydrogen bonds because of the presence of its -OH (hydroxyl) groups. When ethanol is mixed with water, the hydrogen atoms in the hydroxyl groups of ethanol can form bonds with the oxygen atoms of water, and the hydrogen atoms in water can bond with the oxygen atoms in ethanol. This interaction is due to the high electronegativity of oxygen, which attracts the hydrogen from the adjacent molecules.
In dissolution of polar substance in water, like ethanol, existing hydrogen bonds between water molecules are partially replaced by hydrogen bonds with ethanol molecules. This replacement is facilitated because both water and ethanol are polar and have similar electrostatic potential energy, promoting a natural tendency toward dispersion and resulting in a uniform mixture.
Moreover, alcohols have higher boiling points than ethers and alkanes of similar molar masses, which is attributed to the ability of alcohol molecules to engage in hydrogen bonding. Ethanol exhibits intermolecular interactions that are similar to those of water, making it soluble in water.