Hydrogen Bonding

[AlyssaYeh_1B]

How come hydrogen bonding occurs with only molecules that have N, O, F? Why can't hydrogen be bonded with other electronegative atoms and become partially positive?

[MinuChoi]

I think there is a possibility of other electronegative atoms forming hydrogen bonds, but N/O/F are the specific elements for which the hydrogen bonds are favorable and the strongest, so N/O/F hydrogen bonds are the only ones we should be concerned with.

[Catherine Daye 1L]

I think this is because they are very electronegative. Especially because they have small radii, it has strong bonds with hydrogen, which has the smallest radius of all the elements.

[Qilan Li 4I]

The electronegative atom must have one or more unshared electron pairs (which oxygen and nitrogen have). The atoms must also have a partial negative charge. The hydrogen (has a partial positive charge) is attracted to the partial negative charge of oxygen or nitrogen which has excess electrons to share. I believe another reason is that there is a great difference in electronegativity between H and N, O, or F atoms.

[Rebekah Alfred 1J]

The electronegativity of N, O, and F is important because it affects the strength of the hydrogen bond.