Question 39

Define hydrogen bond. Is it weaker or stronger than the van der Waals forces?

Answer

A hydrogen bond represents a dipolar attraction between hydrogen atom and highly electronegative atom. The hydrogen bond is represented by ----------(dotted lines).



For example: H -----------X -----------X -------- X------

 

X = O, N, S, F, Cl….

The bond pair involved in hydrogen bonding was attracted more towards highly electronegative atom, as a result H atom will start acquiring a partial positive charge (δ+) and the electronegative atom will acquire a partial negative charge (δ-).

The magnitude of H-bonding is maximum in the solid state and minimum in the gaseous state.

Hydrogen bonds are of two types

(i) Intermolecular H-bond e.g., HF, H2O etc.

(ii) Intramolecular H-bond e.g., o-nitrophenol

Vander waal’s forces are weak forces and exist in non -polar compounds and noble gases .As compared to hydrogen bonds they are weak in nature because of strong dipole -dipole interaction in hydrogen bonding.

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