Question

In an aqueous environment, what type of interactions will most likely occur BETWEEN the two molecules represented below? (two carbon chains)

A) Hydrogen bonding
B) Ionic bonding
C) Van der Waals forces
D) Covalent bonding

Answer 1

Between two carbon chains in an aqueous environment, Van der Waals forces, particularly London dispersion forces, are the most likely type of interaction because carbon chains are nonpolar and do not form hydrogen, ionic, or covalent bonds with each other.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an aqueous environment, the type of interactions most likely to occur between two carbon chains are Van der Waals forces. Since carbon chains are typically nonpolar molecules, they do not form hydrogen bonds which require a hydrogen atom to be directly bonded to a highly electronegative atom like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine. Therefore, the interactions between two such carbon chains would be due to temporary dipoles and induced dipoles, resulting in Van der Waals forces, more specifically, London dispersion forces which are a type of Van der Waals interaction.