Formaldehyde is used as a preservative and in disinfection. It has the structure shown below. What is the strongest type of intermolecular interaction attracting molecules of formaldehyde together?
A) ionic bonding
B) covalent bonding
C) dispersion forces
D) dipole-dipole forces
E) hydrogen bonding forces

Question

Formaldehyde is used as a preservative and in disinfection. It has the structure shown below. What is the strongest type of intermolecular interaction attracting molecules of formaldehyde together? 
A) ionic bonding 
B) covalent bonding 
C) dispersion forces 
D) dipole-dipole forces 
E) hydrogen bonding forces

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Formaldehyde has a dipole moment due to the electronegativity difference between carbon and oxygen. Therefore, dipole-dipole forces are the strongest type of intermolecular interaction attracting molecules of formaldehyde together.

Formaldehyde Is Used as a Preservative and in Disinfection