Which of the following compounds exhibits the highest boiling point due to hydrogen bonding?
Show Hint
Strong hydrogen bonding occurs mainly when hydrogen is attached to:
\[
\text{F, O, or N}
\]
Compounds containing these bonds usually have unusually high boiling points.
Concept:
Hydrogen bonding is a strong intermolecular force that occurs when hydrogen is directly bonded to highly electronegative atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine. Stronger intermolecular forces result in higher boiling points.
Step 1: Identify which compound can form strong hydrogen bonds.
Among the given compounds:
• \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \): Oxygen is highly electronegative, so strong hydrogen bonding occurs.
• \( \text{H}_2\text{S} \): Sulfur is less electronegative; hydrogen bonding is negligible.
• \( \text{CH}_4 \): No hydrogen bonding possible.
• \( \text{HCl} \): Does not form significant hydrogen bonding.
Step 2: Relate hydrogen bonding to boiling point.
Water molecules are strongly associated through intermolecular hydrogen bonds, requiring large energy to separate them during boiling.
Therefore, \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \) has the highest boiling point.
\[
\boxed{\text{H}_2\text{O}}
\]