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What occurs when a hydrogen's single electron is pulled strongly toward a more electronegative atom?

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Final answer:

When hydrogen's electron is attracted toward a more electronegative atom, hydrogen acquires a slight positive charge leading to the formation of a polar covalent bond and the potential for hydrogen bonding with negatively charged atoms nearby.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a hydrogen's single electron is pulled strongly toward a more electronegative atom, the electron cloud distribution within the molecule changes. This results in the hydrogen atom acquiring a slightly positive charge due to the electron being attracted away from the hydrogen's nucleus.

Consequently, this creates a polar covalent bond where the more electronegative atom becomes slightly negatively charged. The positively charged hydrogen atom can then form hydrogen bonds with negative charges on neighboring atoms, usually oxygen or nitrogen in other molecules, or within the same molecule. These interactions are significant in many biological structures and processes, such as the properties of water and the structure of DNA.

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