Hydrogen Bonds & Water Flashcards
1
Q
What is a hydrogen bond?
A
A non-covalent force of attraction between a partial positive charge on a hydrogen bonded to an atom of high electronegativity and the partial charge on a nearby oxygen (O) or Nitrogen (N).
2
Q
True or False: the high boiling point of water is due to hydrogen bonding between water molecules.
A
True
3
Q
Why are hydrogen bonds important in biological molecules?
A
They determine the:
- physical properties of water
- structure and functioning of DNA
- structures of most proteins
- properties of polysaccharides
4
Q
True or False: without hydrogen bonds, water would be a gas at atmospheric pressure.
A
True
5
Q
Why is water an excellent solvent for ionic molecules?
A
It forms solvent shells which diminish the electrostatic interaction between the ions.
