Hydrogen bonding is maximum in:
(A) Diethyl ether
(B) Triethylamine
(C) Ethanol
(D) None of these
Answer
301.8k+ views
Hint: Hydrogen bond is a kind of dipole-dipole interaction in which hydrogen is attached to an electronegative atom. Hydrogen bonds can vary in different systems and also depend upon the electronegative atom to which hydrogen atom is attached. Higher the electronegativity of the atom the hydrogen is attached to, higher is the hydrogen bonding.
Complete step by step solution:
Now let’s learn the hydrogen bonding in more detail. The hydrogen bonding refers to the formation of hydrogen bonds which are a special class of attractive intermolecular forces that arises due to the dipole-dipole interaction between a hydrogen atom that is bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another highly electronegative atom while lies in the vicinity of the hydrogen atom.
The greater electronegativity difference between the hydrogen and the hydrogen bond acceptor, stronger will be the hydrogen bond.
Normal hydrogen bond strength ranges from 4 to 60 kilojoules per mole although certain highly acidic compounds such as hydrogen fluoride have hydrogen bond energies up to 120 kilojoules per mol.
Let’s check hydrogen bonding in each option for determining in which maximum hydrogen bonding is present.
In diethyl ether, Hydrogen bonding does not occur. Although it contains an oxygen atom that is a hydrogen bond acceptor while the oxygen atom is not bonded to any hydrogen atom. The structure of the diethyl ether is given below.

Thus, option a) is incorrect.
Now in option b) triethylamine does not have hydrogen bonding because there is no hydrogen which is attached to electronegative nitrogen. There are three ethyl groups which are attached to the Nitrogen. The structure is given below.

So, option b) is incorrect.
Lastly, in option C ethanol, it has strong hydrogen bonding due to the presence of a strongly polar bond in the –OH group. Ethanol contains a hydrogen atom and it is bonded to a highly electronegative oxygen atom. The structure is given below.

Therefore among all options only ethanol has hydrogen bonding and thus option c) is the correct one.
Note: Always remember that there are two types of hydrogen bondings present. One is the intermolecular hydrogen bonding, the other is the intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding is seen in most of the compounds where the hydrogen bond is formed between two different molecules of the same compound. For example, the intermolecular hydrogen bonding in para nitrophenol is shown below.

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding is seen in some of the compounds where the hydrogen bond is formed inside the same molecule of the same compound. For example, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in ortho nitrophenol is shown below.

Complete step by step solution:
Now let’s learn the hydrogen bonding in more detail. The hydrogen bonding refers to the formation of hydrogen bonds which are a special class of attractive intermolecular forces that arises due to the dipole-dipole interaction between a hydrogen atom that is bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another highly electronegative atom while lies in the vicinity of the hydrogen atom.
The greater electronegativity difference between the hydrogen and the hydrogen bond acceptor, stronger will be the hydrogen bond.
Normal hydrogen bond strength ranges from 4 to 60 kilojoules per mole although certain highly acidic compounds such as hydrogen fluoride have hydrogen bond energies up to 120 kilojoules per mol.
Let’s check hydrogen bonding in each option for determining in which maximum hydrogen bonding is present.
In diethyl ether, Hydrogen bonding does not occur. Although it contains an oxygen atom that is a hydrogen bond acceptor while the oxygen atom is not bonded to any hydrogen atom. The structure of the diethyl ether is given below.

Thus, option a) is incorrect.
Now in option b) triethylamine does not have hydrogen bonding because there is no hydrogen which is attached to electronegative nitrogen. There are three ethyl groups which are attached to the Nitrogen. The structure is given below.

So, option b) is incorrect.
Lastly, in option C ethanol, it has strong hydrogen bonding due to the presence of a strongly polar bond in the –OH group. Ethanol contains a hydrogen atom and it is bonded to a highly electronegative oxygen atom. The structure is given below.

Therefore among all options only ethanol has hydrogen bonding and thus option c) is the correct one.
Note: Always remember that there are two types of hydrogen bondings present. One is the intermolecular hydrogen bonding, the other is the intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding is seen in most of the compounds where the hydrogen bond is formed between two different molecules of the same compound. For example, the intermolecular hydrogen bonding in para nitrophenol is shown below.

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding is seen in some of the compounds where the hydrogen bond is formed inside the same molecule of the same compound. For example, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in ortho nitrophenol is shown below.

Recently Updated Pages
Normality of 03 M phosphorus acid H3PO3 is A 05 B 06 class 11 chemistry JEE_Main

A molecule with highest bond energy A Fluorine B Chlorine class 11 chemistry JEE_Main

A 30 solution of H2O2 is marketed as 100 volume hydrogen class 11 chemistry JEE_Main

Covalent compounds generally have low melting and boiling class 11 chemistry JEE_Main

When an acid reacts with a metal carbonate or metal class 11 chemistry JEE_Main

The degeneracy of hydrogen atom that has equal energy class 11 chemistry JEE_Main

Trending doubts
JEE Main 2026: Exam Dates, Session 2 Updates, City Slip, Admit Card & Latest News

Understanding the Electric Field of a Uniformly Charged Ring

Electron Gain Enthalpy and Electron Affinity Explained

Derivation of Equation of Trajectory Explained for Students

Understanding Atomic Structure for Beginners

How to Convert a Galvanometer into an Ammeter or Voltmeter

Other Pages
JEE Advanced Percentile vs Marks 2026: JEE Main Cutoff, AIR & IIT Admission Guide

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 Chemistry In Hindi Chapter 1 Some Basic Concepts Of Chemistry - 2026-27 Free PDF Download (Sign-in Required)

Hybridisation in Chemistry – Concept, Types & Applications

Understanding the Different Types of Solutions in Chemistry

What Are Elastic Collisions in One Dimension?

Effective Nuclear Charge for JEE

