Covalent bonds bonding forces, hydrogen molecule

For example, in the HC1 molecule, the partial charge on the hydrogen atom is positive and the partial charge on the chlorine atom is negative. Between neighboring HC1 molecules there is an attraction between the hydrogen and chlorine ends of the molecules. Dipole - dipole forces between HC1 molecules are much weaker than the covalent bond within the molecule. 

The structure of living cells depends very much on the covalent bonds within individual molecules and on covalent crosslinks that sometimes form between molecules. However, weaker forces acting between molecules and between different parts of the same molecule are responsible for many of the most important properties of biochemical substances. These are described as van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions. In the discussion that follows the thermodynamic quantities AH, AS, and AG will be used. If necessary, please see Chapter 6 for definitions and a brief review. 

Within each molecule, the hydrogen atom is held to the chlorine atom by a covalent bond the HCl molecules are attracted to one another by much weaker intermolecular forces. 

The term polymer is derived from the Greek words poly and meros, meaning many parts. We noted in the last section that the existence of these parts was acknowledged before the nature of the interaction which held them together was known. Today we realize that ordinary covalent bonds are the intramolecular forces which keep the polymer molecule intact. In addition, the usual type of intermolecular forces—hydrogen bonds, dipole-dipole interactions, and London forces—hold assemblies of these molecules together in the bulk state. The only thing that is remarkable about these molecules is their size, but that feature is remarkable indeed. 

Secondary Bonding. The atoms in a polymer molecule are held together by primary covalent bonds. Linear and branched chains are held together by secondary bonds hydrogen bonds, dipole interactions, and dispersion or van der Waal s forces. By copolymerization with minor amounts of acryhc (CH2=CHCOOH) or methacrylic acid followed by neutralization, ionic bonding can also be introduced between chains. Such polymers are known as ionomers (qv). 

We have now discussed three types of intermolecular forces dispersion forces, dipole forces, and hydrogen bonds. You should bear in mind that all these forces are relatively weak compared with ordinary covalent bonds. Consider, for example, the situation in HzO. The total intermolecular attractive energy in ice is about 50 kj/mol. In contrast, to dissociate one mole of water vapor into atoms requires the absorption of928 kj of energy, that is, 2(OH bond energy). This explains why it is a lot easier to boil water than to decompose it into the elements. Even at a temperature of 1000°C and 1 atm, only about one H20 molecule in a billion decomposes to hydrogen and oxygen atoms. 

---