The Importance of Hydrogen Bonding in Biology: Hydroxyl Groups and Intermolecular Forces

What bond do hydroxyl groups readily participate in

Hydrogen bonding, they are polar, form bonds with water too, very soluble

Hydroxyl (-OH) groups readily participate in hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonding is a type of intermolecular force that occurs between a hydrogen atom, which is covalently bonded to a strongly electronegative atom, and a neighboring electronegative atom. In the case of hydroxyl groups, the hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to the oxygen atom, which is highly electronegative. This results in a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atom and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. As a result, the hydrogen of one hydroxyl group can form a hydrogen bond with the oxygen of another hydroxyl group, or with other electronegative atoms such as nitrogen or sulfur. Hydrogen bonding is important for many biological molecules such as DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates.

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