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Which molecules would form hydrogen bonds with itself or with water?

A) Nonpolar hydrocarbons
B) Polar covalent compounds
C) Ionic compounds
D) Amino acids

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Polar covalent compounds, ionic compounds, and amino acids can form hydrogen bonds with water or with themselves, while nonpolar hydrocarbons cannot due to their hydrophobic nature.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the given options, the molecules that would form hydrogen bonds with itself or with water are: B) Polar covalent compounds, C) Ionic compounds, and D) Amino acids.

Nonpolar hydrocarbons (Option A) do not form hydrogen bonds as they are hydrophobic and lack polar characteristics necessary for hydrogen bonding.

Polar covalent compounds (Option B) have regions of partial positive and negative charges due to an uneven distribution of electrons, which leads to the ability to form hydrogen bonds with water, as water is a polar molecule itself.

Ionic compounds (Option C) can form strong electrostatic interactions with the polar molecules of water, which, while not strictly hydrogen bonding, leads to these compounds being highly soluble in water.

Lastly, amino acids (Option D), due to their side chains, can be both polar and charged, allowing them to participate in hydrogen bonding with water and with each other.

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