Lecture 2 (Chris Allen)

Question 1

Outline the types of non-covalent bonds found in water

Answer 1

• Water molecules are electrically polar which facilitates non-covalent bonds with many biomolecules.
• Electrostatic interactions - Interaction through space and time.
• Hydrogen bonding - The sharing of a hydrogen atom between electronegative donor and acceptor atoms. The cohesive properties of water are a direct result of hydrogen bonding between water molecules.
• Van der Waals’ interactions - Attraction between atoms caused by either short term polarity changes or dipoles.
• Water is both a weak acid and a weak base as it can donate and accept protons.

Question 2

Describe the covalent bond

Answer 2

• A covalent bond is the sharing of a pair of valence electrons by between two atoms.
• The covalent bond is a balance between repulsion and attraction.