Which of the following properties allows water to have a high boiling point
A
It is a small, covalent molecule.
B
It can form hydrogen bonds.
C
It contains oxygen
D
It contains only three atoms.
confused a lil
I guess I didn't see a threat. The answer to the question above is B, hydrogen bonds is the reason.
A
The correct answer is B. Water can form hydrogen bonds. These bonds are formed between the positively charged hydrogen atom of one water molecule and the negatively charged oxygen atom of another water molecule. These intermolecular forces are relatively strong and require a significant amount of energy to break, which contributes to the high boiling point of water.
To determine which property allows water to have a high boiling point, let's analyze each option:
A) "Water is a small, covalent molecule."
While it is true that water is a small molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom, this property alone does not contribute to its high boiling point. The size of the molecule does not directly influence its boiling point.
B) "Water can form hydrogen bonds."
This statement is correct. Water molecules are polar, meaning they have positive and negative charges. Due to the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen, water molecules can form hydrogen bonds between the positively charged hydrogen atoms and the negatively charged oxygen atoms of neighboring molecules. These hydrogen bonds make the water molecules stick together, requiring more energy to break these bonds and raising the boiling point of water.
C) "Water contains oxygen."
While oxygen is present in water, the presence of oxygen alone does not directly contribute to its high boiling point. Oxygen is an essential component of water but does not explain its unique properties.
D) "Water contains only three atoms."
The number of atoms in a water molecule, three in total (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom), does not directly determine its boiling point. The boiling point primarily depends on the strength of intermolecular forces present between molecules, such as hydrogen bonding.
Based on the explanations provided, B) "Water can form hydrogen bonds" is the correct answer. The ability of water molecules to form hydrogen bonds is the property that allows water to have a high boiling point.