Types of Hydrogen Bonding

Hydrogen bonding can be described as the formation of hydrogen bonds. Compared to the covalent or ionic bond, the hydrogen bond is generally weaker. However, it is stronger than the van der Waals forces. Let’s understand hydrogen bonding through an example. In the case of water molecules, chemically represented as (H2O), hydrogen is bonded covalently to the electronegative oxygen atom. As a result, hydrogen bonding rises in the water molecules because of the dipole-dipole interactions among oxygen atoms and hydrogen atoms. 

In the molecule where the hydrogen atom is closely connected to the highly electronegative atom, the shared piece of an electron is attracted. As a result, the molecule’s end becomes slightly negative, whereas the other end becomes positive. Both the ends attract one another, which leads to the formation of a weak bond between them. Today, we will be discussing the types of hydrogen bonding and other related topics in detail. 

What is hydrogen bonding? 

Experts classified hydrogen bonds as a type of weak chemical bond. It is the process of forming hydrogen bonds that are an attractive intermolecular force’s special class which arises because of the dipole-dipole interaction between the hydrogen atom and a highly electronegative atom. 

It mainly occurs between an electronegative and a hydrogen atom. Some of the common electronegative atoms are fluorine, chlorine, and oxygen. Compared to the covalent or ionic bond, the hydrogen bond is generally weaker. However, it is stronger than the van der Waals forces. Experts classified hydrogen bonds as a type of weak chemical bond. 

Types of hydrogen bonding 

There are two major types of hydrogen bonding examples. These include – 

• Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding

In case hydrogen bonding occurs between different molecules that have either the same or different compounds, these are referred to as intermolecular hydrogen bonding. In simple terms, the intermolecular hydrogen bonding is mainly formulated between two different types of molecules of different or same compounds. 

Some common examples of intermolecular hydrogen bonding include hydrogen bonding in alcohol, water, ammonia, HF molecules, and so on. 

• Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding can be described as hydrogen bonding that mainly occurs within the molecule only. This type of hydrogen bonding takes place in compounds that have two groups. 

Out of the two groups, one group has a hydrogen atom, whereas another group has a highly electronegative atom. 

Examples of hydrogen bonding 

Here are the common examples of hydrogen bonding – 

• Hydrogen bonding in the hydrogen fluoride – Since fluorine has the highest value of electronegativity, it leads to the formation of the strongest hydrogen bond. 

• Hydrogen bonding in the water – A water molecule has a highly electronegative oxygen atom connected to hydrogen atoms. Since the oxygen atom attracts the electron’s shared pair, its end becomes negative, whereas the hydrogen atom becomes positive. 

• Hydrogen bonding in carboxylic acid and alcohols – Alcohol is referred to as an organic molecule with an -OH group. Generally, in case any molecule that has a hydrogen atom is either linked to nitrogen or oxygen directly. Later, hydrogen bonding becomes easier.

• Hydrogen bonding in the ammonia – It has electronegative atom nitrogen connected to hydrogen atoms.

• Hydrogen bonding in the polymer – In order to determine 3D structures and properties which are acquired by natural and synthetic proteins, hydrogen bonding is a crucial factor. It also plays a significant role to define the cellulose structure along with derived polymers, including flax or cotton.

Properties of Hydrogen Bonding 

The following are the properties of hydrogen bonding – 

• Volatility – Since the compounds with hydrogen bonding between several different molecules possess a higher boiling point, these are comparatively less volatile. 

• Solubility – Since hydrogen bonding can take place between alcohol and water molecules, the alcohol is more soluble in the water. 

• Surface and Viscosity tension – Substances that have hydrogen bonding exist as the associated molecule. Therefore, their flow is way difficult. However, they have more viscosity and surface tension. 

• Lower ice density as compared to water. – When talking about the solid ice, hydrogen bonding leads to the cage-like structure. However, every water molecule is closely linked to the four water molecules. Since the molecules are in their liquid state, they are not packed closely. As the ice melts, the case-like structure also begins to melt, and all the molecules come closer to one another. As a result, even if the water mass is the same, the density increases and volume decreases. 

Do the compounds with hydrogen bonding have a high boiling and melting point? 

Hydrogen bonding compounds generally show extremely high melting and boiling points. This is because of the fact that a larger amount of energy is required to break bonds. Since hydrogen bonding is present, the boiling point between halogen acids is generally high. 

Conclusion 

As discussed, there are majorly two types of hydrogen bondings including intermolecular hydrogen bonding and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding mainly occurs between different molecules that have either the same or different compounds. On the other hand, intramolecular hydrogen bonding is the hydrogen bonding that occurs within the molecule only. This type of hydrogen bonding takes place in compounds that have two groups. As discussed, hydrogen bonding is the formation of hydrogen bonds which is generally weaker compared to the covalent or ionic bond. However, it is stronger than the van der Waals forces.