Identify all the intermolecular forces present in the compound H2O. hydrogen bonds dispersion forces dipole-dipole forces

Answer 1

Hi Julio, water has all three of the main intermolecular forces. Here's how you know:

1. Dispersion forces: all molecules have dispersion forces. Electrons will sometimes, just by chance, all be on one side of the molecule and make that side partially negative. The other side will have a slight positive charge.
2. Dipole-dipole forces: the molecule is not symmetrical, and one of the atoms is more electronegative than the others. Oxygen is pretty electronegative, aka it "wants" electrons more and pulls them closer to its nucleus. Because a water molecule is not symmetrical, the electrons are closer to one side of the molecule than the other, making that side negatively charged and the other side positively charged.
3. H-Bonding: the molecule has a hydrogen attached to an electronegative atom. Any time H is attached to O, S, N, or P (and occasionally others), it has hydrogen bonding

Also, whenever a molecule has hydrogen bonding, it essentially always has dispersion and dipole forces as well.

Answer 2

Hi Julio,

Since water molecules contain H and O, hydrogen bonding will be present in water. Water is also a polar molecule, so dipole-dipole forces exist. London-dispersion forces exist essentially on all molecules because it is created by movement of electrons, so it will exist in water too. I hope this helps!