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Approximately how much is the strength of Hydrogen bonding compared to a covalent bond?

User Sstauross
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Final answer:

A hydrogen bond is roughly 5 to 10% as strong as a covalent bond, with typical dissociation energies of only 15-25 kJ/mol compared to the O-H covalent bond strength of 492 kJ/mol.

Step-by-step explanation:

The strength of hydrogen bonding is significantly less than that of a covalent bond. To be more specific, a hydrogen bond typically has a dissociation energy in the range of 15-25 kJ/mol, while a standard O-H covalent bond has a strength of 492 kJ/mol. Therefore, a hydrogen bond is approximately 5 to 10% as strong as a covalent bond. This comparison illustrates that while hydrogen bonds are key contributors to the physical properties of substances and are stronger than other dipole-dipole attractions and dispersion forces, they are considerably weaker than the intramolecular attractive forces found in covalent bonds.

User Dave Rutledge
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