Final answer:
Hydrogen bonding is a weak electrostatic attraction crucial for the stability of DNA, helping maintain its structure during biological processes. It is also vital for the structure of proteins and properties of water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weak electrostatic attraction between a covalently bonded hydrogen atom and an atom with an available electron pair is called hydrogen bonding. This type of interaction is critical in biological systems, notably in the stability of DNA, where 3 hydrogen bonds exist between guanine and cytosine (G-C), while adenine and thymine (A-T) are connected by 2 hydrogen bonds. These bonds provide DNA with the integrity necessary to maintain its structure during replication and other cellular processes.
Hydrogen bonding is also pivotal for many life-sustaining properties of water and is essential for maintaining the three-dimensional structures of proteins. Compared to covalent bonds, a typical hydrogen bond is much weaker, being only about 5% as strong. However, they are stronger than other dipole-dipole interactions and significantly contribute to the functionality of biomolecules.