Learning Objective: To learn about the impact Hydrogen bonding has on the physical properties of melting/boiling points, state, solubility, and reaction rates.
Skill Level – Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Physical properties – Definition | Chapter
Chapter: Intermolecular Forces
Sub-topic: Hydrogen Bonding
Author's Note: Hydrogen bonding interactions are stronger than Vander Waals and exclusive to molecules containing N, O, and F atoms. This section shows how these interactions affect the state of a compound, whether solid, liquid, or gas, melting and boiling point, solubility, and reaction rates. Such a perspective is important while designing reactions or drugs where the reaction rate is an important factor. This section shows examples of how and why water is a liquid and boils at a higher temperature of 100oC compared to its congeners.
Impact of Hydrogen bonding on Physical Properties - Melting and boiling point, Solubility, and State
Melting Point/Boiling Point
Hydrogen bonded elements of N, O, and F as NH3, H2O, and HF show Boiling/Melting points quite different from the other elements in the same group.
Hydrogen bonding is highest in H2O with four bonds, followed by NH3 and HF, with two bonds each. Therefore, more energy is required to break those bonds and boil water at 100oC into individual gas molecules.

Between NH3 and HF with two H-bonds each, the controlling factor determining the Boiling point is ...
In the absence of H-bonding, there is a sharp decline in....
State
The H-bonding allows for stronger intermolecular attraction as molecules must come close to....
Solubility
Water is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve a wide range of substances (exceptions include oils, waxes, metal oxides, sulfates, silicates).
In water molecules, the O-H bonds are polarised.
The two lone pair of Oxygen acts as ....
Functional groups that are ...
Solubility decreases when ...
In addition to the above physical properties, Hydrogen bonding affects the chemical properties where the reaction rates are affected by the molecule showing....
Subscribe and study with examples of the factors affecting hydrogen bond strength.
Next: Hydrogen Bonding - Introduction and Occurrence
Next: The donors and acceptor atoms in the Hydrogen Bond
Next: Hydrogen Bond Strength, Significance, and Types
Next: Factors affecting Hydrogen Bond Strength