JEE Main · 2023 · Shift-ImediumBOND-044

Decreasing order of the hydrogen bonding in following forms of water is correctly represented by: A. Liquid water B.…

Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

Decreasing order of the hydrogen bonding in following forms of water is correctly represented by:

A. Liquid water B. Ice C. Impure water

Options
  1. a

    A = B > C

  2. b

    B > A > C

  3. c

    C > B > A

  4. d

    A > B > C

Correct Answerb

B > A > C

Detailed Solution

🧠 The number and strength of H bonds per water molecule depends on the order and freedom of the structure. More H bonds per molecule → higher degree of H bonding.

B. Ice: Each \ceH2O\ce{H2O} forms exactly 4 H bonds in a regular tetrahedral network (2 as donor, 2 as acceptor). This is the maximum possible H bonding per molecule. → Most H bonding

A. Liquid water: Thermal motion disrupts some H bonds (~3.4 H bonds per molecule on average at 25°C). Less ordered than ice. → Intermediate H bonding

C. Impure water: Dissolved solutes (ions, non-polar substances) disrupt the H-bond network by either competing with it or simply occupying space. → Least H bonding

⚡ This explains why ice is less dense than liquid water — the open tetrahedral H-bond lattice in ice takes up more volume than the partially disrupted liquid network.

Answer: (b) B > A > C\boxed{\text{Answer: (b) B > A > C}}

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