Hydrogen bond — Science definition
Defined in 2 courses:
- A weak attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen in one molecule and a slightly negative atom in another. (Life Science: Biology)
- A strong intermolecular attraction between a hydrogen bonded to N, O, or F and a lone pair on the N, O, or F of a neighboring molecule. (Physical Science: Chemistry)
Where it is taught
- Atoms, Bonds & Water — Investigating the Chemistry of Life, Life Science: Biology, Grade 10
- Molecular Geometry & Polarity — Bonding, Formulas & Molecular Structure, Physical Science: Chemistry, Grade 11
In use
This weak attraction is a hydrogen bond, and although any single one is easy to break, trillions of them acting together give water some superpowers.
Atoms, Bonds & Water
The weakest, present in everything, are fleeting London dispersion forces; polar molecules feel stronger dipole–dipole attractions; and the strongest of all is the hydrogen bond, a powerful attraction between a hydrogen bonded to nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine and a lone pair on a neighboring molecule.
Molecular Geometry & Polarity
Questions using hydrogen bond
Problem 1
Answer and explanation
A hydrogen bond is a strong attraction between a hydrogen atom bonded to N, O, or F in one molecule and a lone pair on the N, O, or F of a neighboring molecule. Water molecules form many hydrogen bonds with one another, so it takes a lot of extra energy — a higher temperature — to pull them apart into a gas, giving water an unusually high boiling point.
Taught alongside
- atom
- element
- covalent bond
- ionic bond
- polar molecule
- pH
- VSEPR theory
- molecular geometry
- electronegativity
- polar bond
- nonpolar bond
- dipole
- intermolecular force