Final answer:
Hydrogen bonding occurs when hydrogen is bonded to fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen. This form of strong non-covalent bonding is critical for the stability of biological molecules and contributes to the unusual properties of water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hydrogen bonding occurs when hydrogen is covalently bonded to fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen. These elements withdraw electron density from the hydrogen atom, making it electron-deficient and exposed. This allows for strong attractions with nearby lone pairs of electrons, resulting in a form of strong non-covalent bonding called hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonding is critical for the stability of many biological molecules and is responsible for many of the unusual properties of water.