Question:

Which of the following shows maximum hydrogen bonding?

Show Hint

Remember the acronym "FON". Hydrogen bonding only occurs significantly when Hydrogen is bonded to Fluorine, Oxygen, or Nitrogen.
Updated On: May 16, 2026
  • HF
  • HCl
  • HBr
  • HI
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation


Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

Hydrogen bonding is a special type of dipole-dipole attraction between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (F, O, or N) and another electronegative atom with a lone pair of electrons.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The strength of a hydrogen bond depends on the electronegativity of the atom attached to hydrogen.
Fluorine (F) is the most electronegative element in the periodic table.
• In the series HF, HCl, HBr, and HI, only HF is capable of forming strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds because the electronegativity of Cl, Br, and I is not high enough to create the necessary polarity.
• Due to this strong hydrogen bonding, HF has an unexpectedly high boiling point compared to other hydrogen halides.

Step 3: Final Answer:

HF (Hydrogen Fluoride) shows the maximum hydrogen bonding.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0