The boiling point of water is 100°C, the boiling point of ethanol is 78°C, and the boiling point of carbon tetrachloride is 76°C. Which describes the strength of the forces between the molecules of water, ethanol, and carbon tetrachloride?(1 point)ResponsesThe forces between molecules are greatest for carbon tetrachloride and ethanol molecules but much lower for water molecules.The forces between molecules are greatest for carbon tetrachloride and ethanol molecules but much lower for water molecules.The forces between them are not a good predictor of boiling points of different substances.The forces between them are not a good predictor of boiling points of different substances.The forces between the molecules of water, ethanol, and carbon tetrachloride are very similar. The forces between the molecules of water, ethanol, and carbon tetrachloride are very similar. The forces between water molecules are greater than those between ethanol and carbon tetrachloride molecules.The forces between water molecules are greater than those between ethanol and carbon tetrachloride molecules.

1 answer

The correct response is: The forces between water molecules are greater than those between ethanol and carbon tetrachloride molecules.

This is because water exhibits strong hydrogen bonding due to the highly polar nature of the molecule, while ethanol also has hydrogen bonding but to a lesser extent. Carbon tetrachloride, being a nonpolar molecule, primarily exhibits weaker London dispersion forces. As a result, the boiling point of water is higher than that of both ethanol and carbon tetrachloride, indicating that the intermolecular forces in water are stronger.