Hydrogen bond

From WikiMD's medical encyclopedia

(Redirected from Hydrogen bonding)

Hydrogen bond is a type of chemical bond that is formed when a hydrogen atom is attracted to an electronegative atom, such as oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine. This bond is often denoted as H---A, where A is the electronegative atom and the dashes represent the bond.

Overview

Hydrogen bonds are generally stronger than van der Waals forces, but weaker than covalent bonds or ionic bonds. They play a crucial role in many biological processes, including DNA replication and protein folding. Hydrogen bonds also contribute to the unique properties of water.

Formation

A hydrogen bond is formed when a hydrogen atom that is already part of a polar covalent bond becomes attracted to another electronegative atom. The hydrogen atom, being positively charged, is attracted to the negative charge of the electronegative atom. This forms a type of dipole-dipole attraction known as a hydrogen bond.

Properties

Hydrogen bonds have several unique properties. They are directional, meaning they have a preferred spatial arrangement. They are also relatively strong, with a typical bond energy of about 5 to 30 kJ/mol. This is significantly stronger than a van der Waals interaction, but weaker than a covalent or ionic bond.

Role in Biological Systems

Hydrogen bonds play a crucial role in many biological systems. In DNA, hydrogen bonds between the base pairs hold the two strands of the double helix together. In proteins, hydrogen bonds contribute to the secondary and tertiary structure of the protein.

See Also

WHO Rod.svg
This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
PubMed
Wikipedia


Stub icon
   This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP-1 injections from $125.

W8mdlogo.png
W8MD weight loss doctors team

W8MD offers a medical weight loss program to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our physician-supervised medical weight loss provides:

NYC weight loss doctor appointments

Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss and Philadelphia medical weight loss clinics.

Linkedin_Shiny_Icon Facebook_Shiny_Icon YouTube_icon_(2011-2013) Google plus


Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD