Hydrogen Bond

Hydrogen bonds are fascinating forces that occur between molecules. But what exactly are they, and why do they matter?

Imagine a water molecule made of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. The oxygen atom pulls shared electrons closer to itself, creating a slight negative charge on its end, while the hydrogen ends become slightly positive. Such molecules that have charged ends are called polar molecules.

Because of these charges, water molecules are attracted to one another. The positive hydrogen end of one water molecule is drawn to the negative oxygen end of another, creating a connection called a hydrogen bond.

Hydrogen bonds aren’t as strong as the covalent bonds in water, but they are strong enough to hold molecules together in liquids like water.

Because hydrogen bonds add resistance, polar molecules need more energy to change state. This is why these compounds, like water, have higher melting and boiling points compared to similar-sized non-polar molecules like methane.

Next time you see water droplets sticking together, remember that one contributing factor is hydrogen bonds!