Although the H-bonding in hydrogen fluoride is much stronger than that in water, yet water has a much higher boiling point than hydrogen fluoride. Why? [Foreign 2012]

Although the H-bonding in hydrogen fluoride is much stronger than that

1.	Although the H-bonding in hydrogen fluoride is much stronger than that in water, yet water has a much higher boiling point than hydrogen fluoride. Why? [Foreign 2012]
Answer» In a molecule of WATER, there are two hydrogen bond donors, while a hydrogen fluoride molecule only has one donor. There is only one donor in HF, but there are 2 hydrogen ATOMS in H 2 O. The oxygen molecule in water has two lone PAIRS which are capable of accepting two hydrogen bonds. THEREFORE, a single water molecule can have up to 4 hydrogen bonds, i.e., 1 for each hydrogen and 2 for the oxygen. On the other hand, HF can only undergo 2 hydrogen bonds per molecule.