Final answer:
Only the hydrogen atom attached to the oxygen in ethanol can form hydrogen bonds because hydrogen bonding occurs when a hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom such as N, O, or F. This hydrogen bonding is due to the polarity of the O-H bond in the hydroxyl group.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the statements provided, the one that correctly describes the hydrogen bonds in an ethanol molecule is: "Only the hydrogen atom attached to the oxygen atom is capable of forming hydrogen bonds. A dipole does not form between the hydrogen and carbon atoms." Ethanol has the molecular formula C2H5OH, and it possesses one hydroxyl (-OH) group. Hydrogen bonding may occur due to the polar nature of the O-H bond within the hydroxyl group, where the oxygen atom is more electronegative and holds a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen atom is partially positive.
Hydrogen bonding is a special type of dipole-dipole interaction that arises when a hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), or fluorine (F). In ethanol, only the hydrogen atom that is part of the hydroxyl group meets this criterion, as the C-H bonds are not significantly polarized for hydrogen bonding to occur. The hydrogen attached to the oxygen can act as a hydrogen bond donor, while the lone pairs on the oxygen can act as hydrogen bond acceptors, allowing ethanol to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules that have suitable donors or acceptors.