Engineering
Chemistry
Vander Waal Forces and Weak Forces
Question

Which statement is correct:

Formic acid forms dimer by H bonding

B.p.of H2O, BiH3, HF are maximum in their respective group due to intermolecular H-bonding

B.p. of CH4 out of CH4, SiH4, GeH4 and SnH4 is least due to weak intermolecular force of attraction

All are correct

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Solution

All three statements are correct. Formic acid (HCOOH) dimerizes via strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds, increasing its effective molecular weight and boiling point. Water (H2O), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen fluoride (HF) exhibit anomalously high boiling points within their respective groups (VIA, VA, VIIA) due to extensive hydrogen bonding. Methane (CH4) has the lowest boiling point among CH4, SiH4, GeH4, and SnH4 because London dispersion forces, the only intermolecular forces present, increase with molecular size and mass; CH4 is the smallest and lightest.

These forces generally increase with increasing molecular weight and size. Moving down the group from PH₃ to BiH₃, the size and mass of the central atom increase (P < As < Sb < Bi), leading to stronger van der Waals forces and an increase in boiling points in the order PH₃ < AsH₃ < SbH₃ < BiH₃.

Final Answer: All are correct