hydrogen bond

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hydrogen bond The force of attraction (the hydrogen force) that exists between polar molecules containing hydrogen atoms, or between one part of a molecular chain and another part that contains bonded hydrogen. It occurs because the single electron in the hydrogen atom is held only weakly, so hydrogen readily forms ionic bonds, which allow a hydrogen atom to link other atoms. Some of the properties of water are due to the hydrogen bond that links water molecules. DNA molecules are linked by hydrogen bonds, and hydrogen bonding is also important in linking other organic molecules. See also COVALENT BOND; IONIC BOND; and METALLIC BOND.

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