Question

What is electronegativity and how does it affect interactions between water molecules?

Answer 1

Electronegativity is conceived to be the ability of an atom involved in a chemical bond to polarize electron density towards itself.

Explanation:

For water, or hydrogen fluoride, we could represent this charge separation, this polarity, as `""^(+delta)"H"-"O"^(delta-)-"H"^(delta+)` or `""^(-delta)"F"-"H"^(delta+)`. In the gaseous phase or the liquid phase these dipoles are free to align, and this constitutes a potent INTERMOLECULAR force. This extra intermolecular force contributes to the elevated normal boiling points of water and hydrogen fluoride, which are `100` `""^@C` or `19.5` `""^@C`.