Which among the following substances has the strongest intermolecular forces of attraction?

Options

A. steam
B. bromine
C. oxygen
D. hydrogen chloride gas

Explanation

To determine which among the given substances has the strongest intermolecular forces of attraction, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Substances**: The substances given are steam (H2O gas), bromine (Br2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen chloride (HCl gas).

2. **State of Matter**:
- Steam (H2O) is in the gaseous state.
- Bromine (Br2) is in the liquid state at room temperature.
- Oxygen (O2) is in the gaseous state.
- Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is in the gaseous state.

3. **Understand Intermolecular Forces**:
- Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction between molecules. Generally, the strength of these forces increases from gas to liquid to solid.
- Gases have weaker intermolecular forces compared to liquids and solids.

4. **Compare the States**:
- Since bromine is the only substance in the liquid state, it will have stronger intermolecular forces than the gaseous substances (steam, oxygen, and hydrogen chloride).

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, bromine (Br2) has the strongest intermolecular forces of attraction among the given substances.

### Final Answer:
Bromine (Br2) has the strongest intermolecular forces of attraction.

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