Question

Which of the functional groups in Table 21.4 can exhibit hydrogen bonding intermolecular forces? Can CH₂CF₂ exhibit hydrogen bonding? Explain.

Short answer

Alcohols, carboxylic acids, and amines are the groups that can exhibit hydrogen bonding intermolecular forces.

CH₂CF₂ cannot exhibit hydrogen bonding as in this molecule there is no covalent bond in between hydrogen and fluorine molecule.

Step-by-step solution

To find the functional groups

Hydrogen bonding takes place between hydrogen and either nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine. A hydrogen atom can engage in hydrogen bonding if it is bonded to a more electronegative atom (N, O, or F). In terms of organic compounds, we consider only N-H and O-H bonds to be hydrogen-bonded.

Exhibit in the hydrogen bonding

Generally, alcohols and carboxylic acids have O-H bond and amines have N-H bond.

Only these functional groups can exhibit hydrogen bonding

CH₂CF₂ cannot exhibit hydrogen bonding as in this molecule there is no covalent bond in between hydrogen and fluorine molecule.

Hydrogen is bonded to carbon, which has similar electronegativity to hydrogen. And we said that hydrogen must be bonded to more electron negative atoms to engage in hydrogen bonding.

Hence alcohols, carboxylic acids, and amines are the groups that can exhibit hydrogen bonding intermolecular forces.