JEE Main 2024 — Chemical Bonding And Molecular Structure Question with Solution

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding occurs when a hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, like oxygen or nitrogen, and this hydrogen atom is also attracted to another electronegative atom within the same molecule. This phenomenon tends to happen when the molecule can form a six-membered or five-membered ring as a result of this bonding, which offers a stable configuration.

Let's consider each of the given options:

• Option A : The structure in this option contains an ortho-nitrophenol molecule, in which the hydroxyl group (-OH) and the nitro group (-NO2) are positioned on the benzene ring such that they are adjacent to each other. This allows for the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group and the oxygen of the nitro group. Hence, this compound can exhibit intramolecular hydrogen bonding.


• Option B : Water (${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$) is capable of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, but it cannot form intramolecular hydrogen bonds as it is a simple molecule with just one oxygen atom and no possibility to form a stable ring structure within a single molecule.


• Option C : Ethanol (${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}$) can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds through its hydroxyl group with other ethanol molecules or water molecules, but like water, it cannot form intramolecular hydrogen bonds because it does not have the correct geometry for the hydroxyl group to bond within the same molecule.


• Option D : Ammonia (${\mathrm{NH}}_3$) is known for intermolecular hydrogen bonding with other ammonia molecules or with water molecules, but there are no hydrogen bond acceptors within the molecule that would allow for intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

Therefore, the compound that can show intramolecular hydrogen bonding is in Option A, the ortho-nitrophenol molecule.