Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 10: Problem 14

Hydrogen bonding is a special case of very strong dipoledipole interactions possible among only certain atoms. What atoms in addition to hydrogen are necessary for hydrogen bonding? How does the small size of the hydrogen atom contribute to the unusual strength of the dipole-dipole forces involved in hydrogen bonding?

Short Answer

Expert verified
In short, hydrogen bonds involve hydrogen atoms bonded to highly electronegative atoms, such as fluorine (F), oxygen (O), or nitrogen (N). The small size of the hydrogen atom enables the positively charged hydrogen nucleus to be very close to the electronegative atom, leading to a strong electrostatic attraction and exceptionally strong dipole-dipole interactions in hydrogen bonding.

Step by step solution

01

Identify atoms necessary for hydrogen bonding

To form hydrogen bonds, hydrogen must be bonded with a highly electronegative atom, which leads to a strong dipole-dipole interaction. The most electronegative atoms that can form hydrogen bonds are fluorine (F), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N). These atoms have a high affinity for electrons, creating a significant partial negative charge on them when bonded to hydrogen.
02

Hydrogen's small size and hydrogen bonding strength

The small size of the hydrogen atom plays a significant role in the strength of hydrogen bonding. Since hydrogen is the smallest and lightest element, its electron cloud is relatively close to the nucleus. When bonded to a highly electronegative atom like fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen, the electron cloud of hydrogen is drawn towards the electronegative atom, creating a strong dipole. Moreover, the small size of the hydrogen atom allows the positively charged hydrogen nucleus (proton) to come very close to the electronegative atom of a neighboring molecule. This proximity leads to a strong electrostatic attraction, which makes hydrogen bonding significantly stronger than typical dipole-dipole interactions.
03

Summary

In summary, hydrogen bonds occur when a hydrogen atom is bonded to a highly electronegative atom, such as fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen. The small size of hydrogen contributes to the strength of hydrogen bonding by allowing the positively charged hydrogen nucleus to come very close to the electronegative atom, resulting in a strong electrostatic attraction and a stronger-than-usual dipole-dipole interaction.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

When wet laundry is hung on a clothesline on a cold winter day, it will freeze but eventually dry. Explain.

Consider two different organic compounds, each with the formula \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6} \mathrm{O} .\) One of these compounds is a liquid at room conditions and the other is a gas. Write Lewis structures consistent with this observation, and explain your answer. (Hint: The oxygen atom in both structures satisfies the octet rule with two bonds and two lone pairs.)

The structure of the compound \(\mathrm{K}_{2} \mathrm{O}\) is best described as a cubic closest packed array of oxide ions with the potassium ions in tetrahedral holes. What percent of the tetrahedral holes are occupied in this solid?

Why does water evaporate?

The temperature inside a pressure cooker is \(115^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Calculate the vapor pressure of water inside the pressure cooker. What would be the temperature inside the pressure cooker if the vapor pressure of water was \(3.50 \mathrm{~atm}\) ?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free