Question

which would you think would be a stronger interaction and why: an interaction between a sodium ion and the prtial negative charge on the oxygen in ethanol, or the interaction between two ethanol molecules

Answer 1

The interaction between sodium ion and the partial negative charge on the oxygen is stronger.

Step-by-step explanation:

The predominant interaction that exists between sodium ion and the partial negative charge on the oxygen is ion-dipole interaction.

The predominant interaction that exists between two ethanol molecules is hydrogen bonding interaction.

The order of strength of the intermolecular interactions in decreasing order:

Ionic bond > ion-dipole interaction > hydrogen bonding > dipole-dipole interaction > ion-induced dipole interaction > induced dipole- dipole interaction > london force

So, ion-dipole interaction is stronger than hydrogen bonding.

Hence, the interaction between sodium ion and the partial negative charge on the oxygen is stronger.