Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between atoms that have formed other chemical bonds. One of these atoms is electronegative, like oxygen, and has a partial negative charge. The other is a hydrogen atom that has bonded with another electronegative atom and has a partial positive charge.
Because hydrogen has very weak electronegativity when it binds with a strongly electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, electrons in the bond are unequally shared. The other atom pulls the electrons to itself, sharing them with the hydrogen atom a smaller amount of the time. This gives the hydrogen atom a partial positive charge, causing it to be attracted to atoms with a partial negative charge. The cumulative effect of these weak attractionsis life-altering, endowing water with high heat capacity, high heat of vaporization, ability to dissolve polar molecules, adhesion, cohesion, and strong surface tension.
From Chapter 2:
Now Playing
Chemistry of Life
113.7K Views
Chemistry of Life
158.3K Views
Chemistry of Life
177.9K Views
Chemistry of Life
94.1K Views
Chemistry of Life
65.6K Views
Chemistry of Life
91.0K Views
Chemistry of Life
54.3K Views
Chemistry of Life
102.9K Views
Chemistry of Life
85.4K Views
Chemistry of Life
53.2K Views
Chemistry of Life
139.0K Views
Chemistry of Life
112.5K Views
Chemistry of Life
60.3K Views
Chemistry of Life
48.1K Views
Chemistry of Life
127.4K Views
See More
ABOUT JoVE
Copyright © 2025 MyJoVE Corporation. All rights reserved