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 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.The 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.

Answer 1

The correct response regarding the strength of the forces between the molecules of water, ethanol, and carbon tetrachloride is:

The forces between water molecules are greater than those between ethanol and carbon tetrachloride molecules.

This choice is appropriate because water experiences hydrogen bonding, which is a strong intermolecular force, whereas ethanol also has some hydrogen bonding but to a lesser extent, and carbon tetrachloride primarily has weaker van der Waals (dispersion) forces. This difference in intermolecular forces helps explain why water has a higher boiling point than both ethanol and carbon tetrachloride.