Hydrogen bond

Definition

A hydrogen bond is a weak type of chemical bond that is formed when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine, experiences an attraction to another electronegative atom in a nearby molecule or within the same molecule. It plays a crucial role in determining the structure and properties of water, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Related terms

Electronegativity:

The measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold electrons.

Dipole: Dipole Interactions - Attractive forces between the positive end of one polar molecule and the negative end of another polar molecule.

van der Waals Forces: A general term for the various intermolecular forces (including dipole-dipole interactions and London dispersion forces) that are weaker than covalent and ionic bonds