The molecule with the strongest intermolecular forces among the options provided is CH3CH2CH2OH (option C). This molecule is a primary alcohol, also known as 1-propanol.
The strength of intermolecular forces is determined by the type of functional groups present in a molecule. In this case, 1-propanol has hydrogen bonding as its dominant intermolecular force due to the presence of an -OH group. Hydrogen bonding is stronger than the other types of intermolecular forces like London dispersion forces and dipole-dipole interactions.
To compare:
- A (CH3COCH3) is acetone, which has dipole-dipole interactions.
- B (CH3CH2CHO) is propanal, which also has dipole-dipole interactions.
- D (CH3CH2COOH) is propanoic acid, which has hydrogen bonding like 1-propanol, but the position of the -COOH group makes it less effective in forming hydrogen bonds compared to the -OH group in 1-propanol.
Therefore, 1-propanol (CH3CH2CH2OH) has the strongest intermolecular forces among the given options due to hydrogen bonding.
