Which ranks these materials by the attraction between their atoms from the weakest to the strongest?

Question

oxygen gas, liquid water, liquid honey, solid iron ore
liquid water, liquid honey, oxygen gas, solid iron ore
solid iron ore, liquid honey, liquid water, oxygen gas
oxygen gas, liquid honey, liquid water, solid iron ore

Answer 1

To rank these materials by the attraction between their atoms from weakest to strongest, we need to consider the types of bonding and interactions present in each:

1. Oxygen gas (O₂) - The attraction between oxygen molecules is primarily due to weak van der Waals forces, making it the least strong in terms of atomic attraction.

2. Liquid honey - Honey is a viscous liquid with a complex mixture of sugars and some water. The attraction in honey includes hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, making it stronger than oxygen gas but weaker than water.

3. Liquid water (H₂O) - Water has strong hydrogen bonding between its molecules, which gives it significant attractions between its atoms, stronger than those in honey and oxygen.

4. Solid iron ore - In solid iron ore, atoms are held together by strong metallic bonds, which are typically the strongest type of atomic attraction in solids.

Thus, the correct order from weakest to strongest attraction between their atoms is:

Oxygen gas, liquid honey, liquid water, solid iron ore.