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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: biospy on November 22, 2006, 01:08:47 PM

Title: one test question
Post by: biospy on November 22, 2006, 01:08:47 PM

one question was

Which of the following has hydrogen bonding as the most influential force?

there were 5 choices, two of which were tempting to pick

1- CH3OH
2- C6H13NH2

i put 1, is it correct?

i thought since there was a greater hydrogen-to-other stuff ratio for the first one, it would be correct

Title: Re: one test question
Post by: Dan on November 22, 2006, 01:51:36 PM

Yor answer is correct, but your reasoning is not.

For example, the H to "other stuff" ratio in methane is 4:1. The ratio in water is 2:1. Methane has a higher ratio, but I'm sure you'll agree that hydrogen bonding is not a factor in methane, whereas it's extensive in water.

Consider this hydrogen bond,

X   H---Y

What are the requirements of X and Y for this hydrogen bond (the dotted one) to be strong?

Title: Re: one test question
Post by: biospy on November 22, 2006, 02:01:56 PM

ok thanks, as long as the answer is right....the reasoning could go either way for me

my friend was insisting that simply because the second has MORE hydrogen overall it would be the choice

Title: Re: one test question
Post by: Dan on November 22, 2006, 02:04:03 PM

Quote from: biospy on November 22, 2006, 02:01:56 PM

ok thanks, as long as the answer is right....the reasoning could go either way for me

That is an appalling attitude to take.