Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 43m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 36m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 6m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood3h 22m
18. The Heart3h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance37m
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity3h 32m

2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components

Hydrogen Bonding

Anatomy & Physiology

2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components

Hydrogen Bonding

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Problem 6

Textbook Question

What are hydrogen bonds, and how do they form?

Verified step by step guidance

Hydrogen bonds are weak interactions that occur between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom (such as oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine) and another electronegative atom nearby. These bonds are crucial in maintaining the structure of biological molecules like DNA and proteins.

To understand how hydrogen bonds form, first recognize that electronegative atoms attract electrons more strongly, creating a partial negative charge (δ⁻) on the electronegative atom and a partial positive charge (δ⁺) on the hydrogen atom bonded to it.

When a molecule with a δ⁺ hydrogen atom comes close to another molecule with a δ⁻ electronegative atom, the partial charges attract each other, forming a hydrogen bond. This is an intermolecular force rather than a covalent or ionic bond.

Hydrogen bonds are directional, meaning they form at specific angles that align the δ⁺ hydrogen and the δ⁻ electronegative atom. This alignment contributes to the stability and specific structure of molecules like water, DNA, and proteins.

In biological systems, hydrogen bonds play a key role in processes such as the pairing of DNA bases (adenine-thymine and cytosine-guanine) and the folding of proteins into their functional three-dimensional shapes.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hydrogen Bonds

Hydrogen bonds are a type of weak chemical bond that occurs when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, experiences an attraction to another electronegative atom. This interaction is crucial in many biological processes, including the structure of water and the formation of proteins and nucleic acids.

Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons. In the context of hydrogen bonds, atoms like oxygen and nitrogen have high electronegativity, which creates a partial negative charge on these atoms and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atom. This charge difference facilitates the formation of hydrogen bonds between molecules.

Molecular Interactions

Molecular interactions refer to the various forces that hold molecules together or influence their behavior. Hydrogen bonds are one of these interactions, alongside ionic and covalent bonds. Understanding these interactions is essential for grasping how substances like water exhibit unique properties, such as high surface tension and boiling points, due to the presence of hydrogen bonds.