hydrogen bonding
What hydrogen bonding means in Chemistry A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of hydrogen bonding
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Reference: OCR
A strong intermolecular attraction between molecules containing N, O or F and the H atom of –NH, –OH or HF, stronger than ordinary permanent dipole–dipole forces but weaker than covalent bonds.
The strongest force, needing a hydrogen atom bonded directly to nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine and a lone pair on a nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine atom of another molecule.
A bond forms between the δ⁺ hydrogen of an N-H and a lone pair on the δ⁻ oxygen of a C=O, or between R groups carrying -OH, -NH₂ or -COOH.
An intermolecular attraction in which the hydrogen atom of a polar O–H bond is attracted to a lone pair on the oxygen of a water molecule.
Topics that use hydrogen bonding
- Forces between molecules (AQA A-Level)
- Proteins (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Bonding and structure (OCR A-Level)
- Carboxylic acids and esters (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- condensation
- Acid-catalysed hydrolysis
- Acid–base behaviour of products
- Acyl chlorides as reactive acid derivatives
- anomalous boiling points
- Anomalous melting and boiling points
- Average bond enthalpy
- Averaging over similar compounds and its limitation
Using hydrogen bonding in the exam
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