Which statement describes hydrogen bonding?

• A. It occurs only in nonpolar molecules.
• B. It involves the transfer of electrons to form ions.
• C. H to N, O, or F of another molecule.
• D. It is the same as a covalent bond within a molecule.

Answer: (C)

Hydrogen bonding is a specific intermolecular attraction that occurs when a hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (usually nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine) and is attracted to a lone pair on a nearby electronegative atom in another molecule. This creates a hydrogen bond between molecules.

The description that fits this is the one where hydrogen, bonded to N, O, or F, interacts with the same type of atom on another molecule via its lone pairs. It does not involve transferring electrons to form ions, it is not the same as a covalent bond within a molecule, and it typically happens in polar substances rather than nonpolar ones. For example, water molecules form networks of hydrogen bonds that contribute to its high boiling point and surface tension.