Question

In general, hydrogen bonds are

A: about ten times stronger than typical covalent bonds.
B: about 1/10 as strong as typical covalent bonds.
C: found in every molecule containing more than one hydrogen atom.
D: found only between H atoms in molecules like H2.

Answer 1

Hydrogen bonds are intermolecular forces that are significantly weaker than covalent bonds, generally being about 5% to 10% the strength of a typical covalent bond. Thus, option B is correct as it suggests that hydrogen bonds are about 1/10 as strong as typical covalent bonds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The hydrogen bond is an intermolecular attractive force where a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom is attracted to a lone pair of electrons on an atom in a neighboring molecule. Although hydrogen bonds are stronger than most other intermolecular forces, such as dipole-dipole interactions, they are much weaker than covalent bonds. Specifically, a hydrogen bond is about 5% to 10% the strength of a typical covalent bond.

Given the choices, the correct answer is B: hydrogen bonds are about 1/10 as strong as typical covalent bonds. The other options provided misconceptions about the strength and nature of hydrogen bonding.