Sign in
12thPass logo
New chatPYQ LibraryDoubtsRank report
Sign in to see Recents

Your guest activity stays on this device

Sign in to save progress →
Sign in

Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2014 · Shift 1 · Q11
Guest · filters and generic practice availableBrowsing as a guest · PYQ filters and generic practice are available. Sign in only for personalised features and saved progress.
  1. PYQ Library
  2. /JEE Advanced
  3. /Chemistry
  4. /Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
  5. /2014 · Shift 1 · Q11

Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2014 · Shift 1 · Q11

JEE AdvancedChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureMultiple correct+3 / −1
Hydrogen bonding plays a central role in the following phenomena
  1. A
    ice floats in water
  2. B
    higher Lewis basicity of primary amines than tertiary amines in aqueous solutions
  3. C
    formic acid is more acidic than acetic acid
  4. D
    dimerisation of acetic acid in benzene
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: A, B, C, D

  1. Identify where hydrogen bonding is important

Hydrogen bonding can affect:

  • intermolecular association,
  • solvation in water,
  • structural arrangement of molecules,
  • stability of conjugate bases or molecular aggregates.

We evaluate each option independently.


  1. Option A: ice floats in water

In ice, water molecules form an open three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network. This makes ice less dense than liquid water.

Since density of ice is lower than density of water, ice floats.

So, A is correct.


  1. Option B: higher Lewis basicity of primary amines than tertiary amines in aqueous solutions

In aqueous solution, basicity is not decided only by the +I+I+I effect of alkyl groups; it also depends strongly on solvation of the protonated amine by water.

Primary amines form conjugate acids such as RNH3+RNH_3^+RNH3+​, which are better solvated through hydrogen bonding with water than tertiary ammonium ions such as R3NH+R_3NH^+R3​NH+.

Tertiary amines suffer from steric hindrance, so hydrogen bonding/solvation by water is less effective. Hence, in aqueous solution, primary amines can be more basic than tertiary amines.

Therefore, hydrogen bonding plays a central role here.

So, B is correct.


  1. Option C: formic acid is more acidic than acetic acid

We compare:

  • formic acid: HCOOHHCOOHHCOOH
  • acetic acid: CH3COOHCH_3COOHCH3​COOH

The methyl group in acetic acid shows a +I+I+I effect, which destabilizes the acetate ion relative to formate ion, making acetic acid weaker than formic acid.

Also, in aqueous medium, the conjugate base HCOO−HCOO^-HCOO− is better hydrated via hydrogen bonding than CH3COO−CH_3COO^-CH3​COO− because the methyl group reduces effective hydration somewhat.

Thus hydrogen bonding/solvation contributes to the greater acidity of formic acid.

So, C is correct.


  1. Option D: dimerisation of acetic acid in benzene

In nonpolar solvents such as benzene, acetic acid molecules associate to form cyclic dimers through intermolecular hydrogen bonding:

2 CH3COOH⇌(CH3COOH)22\,CH_3COOH \rightleftharpoons (CH_3COOH)_22CH3​COOH⇌(CH3​COOH)2​

This dimerisation is a classic consequence of hydrogen bonding.

So, D is correct.


  1. Final selection

All four phenomena involve hydrogen bonding significantly.

Hence the correct options are:

A, B, C, D\boxed{A,\ B,\ C,\ D}A, B, C, D​


  1. Comparison with stored correct answer

Stored correct answer: A,B,C,DA, B, C, DA,B,C,D

My derived answer matches the stored correct answer.

PreviousNext

More from Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

  • A list of species having the formula XZ4​ is given below. XeF4​, SF4​ ,SiF4​, BF4−​, BrF4−​, [Cu(NH3​)4​]2+, [FeCl4​]2−, [CoCl4​]2− and [PtCl4​]2− Defining shape on the basis of the location of X and Z…2014 · Numerical
  • Match the orbital overlap figures shown in List I with the description given in List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists. Includes diagram2014 · MCQ
  • Assuming 2s – 2p mixing is NOT operative, the paramagnetic species among the following is2014 · MCQ
  • The shape of XeO2​F2​ molecule is2012 · MCQ
  • Based on VSEPR theory, the number of 90 degree F-Br-F angles in BrF5​ is2010 · Numerical
  • The species having pyramidal shape is2010 · MCQ
  • Assuming that Hund's rule is violated, the bond order and magnetic nature of the diatomic molecule B2​ is2010 · MCQ
  • Match each of the diatomic molecules in Column I with its property/properties in Column II: Includes table2009 · MCQ