WANI Dictionary

Hydrogen bond

A hydrogen bond is electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom (typically oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine) and another electronegative atom.

Hydrogen bond can be formed between such atoms in a single molecule or of different molecules.

Definitions in the literature

• Attraction between a covalently bonded hydrogen atom and another atom taking part in a separate covalent bond [1].
• the weak attraction between a hydrogen atom that bears a partial positive charge (due to polar covalent bonding with another atom) and another atom (oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine) that bears a partial negative charge; hydrogen bonds may form between atoms of a single molecule or of different molecules [2].
• the attractive force between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a small, highly electronegative atom and another atom containing an unshared pair of electrons [3].
• A type of electrostatic interaction between electronegative (fluorine, nitrogen, or oxygen) atoms in one molecule and hydrogen atoms bound to electronegative atoms in another molecule [4].