BS161 Bonds & Forces

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to covalent bonds and intermolecular forces from the lecture notes.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons, creating a molecule.

Intermolecular forces

Forces that act between molecules (not within), weaker than covalent bonds; include hydrogen bonds, dipole–dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces.

Hydrogen bond

A strong dipole–dipole interaction where a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (F, O, or N) is attracted to a lone pair on another electronegative atom.

Polar covalent bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are shared unequally, generating partial positive and negative charges on the bonded atoms.

Nonpolar covalent bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally, producing no significant partial charges.

Electronegativity

The tendency of an atom to attract electrons toward itself in a chemical bond.

Partial charge

A small, non-integer charge on an atom in a polar covalent bond resulting from uneven electron distribution.

C-H bond

A bond between carbon and hydrogen that is generally nonpolar because their electronegativities are similar.

C-N bond

A polar covalent bond between carbon and nitrogen due to electronegativity difference.

N-H bond

A polar covalent bond because nitrogen is more electronegative than hydrogen.

O-H bond

A polar covalent bond with hydrogen bonded to oxygen; hydrogen is partially positive and oxygen is partially negative.

C-O bond

A polar covalent bond between carbon and oxygen due to electronegativity difference.

Hydroxyl group

An -OH functional group; can form hydrogen bonds with water and other molecules.

Carbonyl group

Functional group C=O; highly polar; oxygen can act as a hydrogen bond acceptor.

Solubility in water

The extent to which a substance dissolves in water; increases with the ability to form hydrogen bonds and polar interactions with water.

Hydrogen bonding with water

Hydrogen bonds formed between solute and water molecules, or between water molecules themselves, facilitating solubility.

Hydrogen bond donor

A species that donates a hydrogen atom in a hydrogen bond (typically an -X–H group, where X is O, N, or F).

Hydrogen bond acceptor

A species that accepts a hydrogen bond through lone pairs on electronegative atoms (such as O, N, or F).