Question

Among $N{H}_3,H_2$ and $HF$ which would you expect to have the highest magnitude of hydrogen bonding and why?

Answer 1

The extent of hydrogen bonding depends on electronegativity and number of hydrogen available,

So,the expected order is $HF>H_{2}O>N{H}_3$

But the correct order is $H_{2}O>HF>N{H}_3$

It is because,water the o has right number of hydrogen to bond with,which makes straight chain forms ring like structures.

But in $HF$, it has less hydrogen and in $N{H}_3$ ,since nitrogen has only one lone pair,therefore it is very less.