Which of the following could not act as a medium for a mechanical wave? a) air
b) empty space
c) liquid water
d) a solid rope

b) empty space

Explanation:

A mechanical cannot travel through empty space. So option (b) is correct.

A mechanical wave is a wave which needs a material medium for its propagation. For example sound, water waves etc . The medium required by the wave can be a solid, liquid or a gas. Empty space doesn't have any medium, so a mechanical wave cannot travel through empty space.

vanderwaal's forces of attraction are the electrostatic intermolecular forces that exist in a molecule due to the temporary or permanent dipoles that are developed in a molecule. in , the major intermolecular forces are dipole-dipole interactions as the molecule is polar (bent structure). so the vanderwaal's forces of interaction in between molecules are the permanent dipole-dipole interactions that develop due to the dipole that exists in between the polar h - s bond. the positively charged hydrogen atom is attracted towards the negative end of the dipole that is sulfur of the adjacent molecule. therefore, these forces of attraction are relatively stronger than that of london dispersion forces that exist in non polar molecules.

the answer is d.) potassium