Can H2S Molecules Form Hydrogen Bonds?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can form hydrogen bonds. Initially, there is confusion about the chemical formula, with participants clarifying that H2S is the correct term. A common belief is that hydrogen bonds primarily occur with highly electronegative atoms like nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine, leading to skepticism about H2S's ability to participate in hydrogen bonding. Some participants argue that the definition of hydrogen bonds is too restrictive and that the interactions involving H2S, while weaker than those in water, may still be significant. It is noted that hydrogen bonding is fundamentally an electrostatic attraction, and the distinction between hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions can be ambiguous. The conversation also touches on the role of sulfur in biological molecules, such as cysteine, where hydrogen bonding may occur. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the complexity of hydrogen bonding and the varying interpretations of H2S's capabilities in this context.
rashida564
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can H2s form hydrogen bonds
i read that H2s can , but I'm not so sure about it .
 
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No such thing as H2s, I assume you mean H2S.

Why do you think it can't?
 
yes , sorry i meant H2S , to my mind that hydrogen bond only exist between hydrogen bond with N or O or F .
 
What is your rationale behind limiting hydrogen bonds to these three elements?
 
because our teacher used to teach us that the hydrogen bond only come with N , O , F.
 
Then i have read that H2S can form hydrogen bond .
 
Borek said:
limiting hydrogen bonds to these three elements?

rashida564 said:
our teacher used to teach us

rashida564 said:
Then i have read that H2S can form hydrogen bond .
Do you still have the same teacher, or have you progressed/advanced?
 
The same teacher it will never change until you graduate from the high school .
 
but i want to know is H2S can make hydrogen bond
 
  • #10
Think about what the hydrogen bond really is. What bonds with what and how.

You do know that all bonds are in fact "just" electrostatic attractions between charges?
 
  • #11
hydrogen bond is a type of intermolecular force that exist when hydrogen atom compound with
1 -a high electronegativity atom such as N,O,F .
2-it also must be a small atom .
3- when it compound with hydrogen it must have at least one free pair of electron .
 
  • #12
Borek said:
You do know that all bonds are in fact "just" electrostatic attractions between charges?
I wouldn't sign this!
 
  • #13
One of the problems is that a there is no sharp border between weak hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions.
Fact is that the SHS interaction is much smaller than e.g. the OHO interaction in water. Whether you call it a hydrogen bond or not may be a matter of convention.
 
  • #14
epenguin said:
I think you have got answers that are good enough for your purposes.

I am not an expert on this, but I know that some people consider the inability of -S-H to participate in the hydrogen bonding is often exaggerated. Water structure is a complex subject; I think this passage is suggesting that cooperative phenomena involving extended hydrogen bonded and structures with several molecules of water play a part. https://books.google.it/books?id=p1MBoYt64n0C&pg=PA293&lpg=PA293&dq=Hydrogen+bonds+H2S&source=bl&ots=5HnpBid-ra&sig=50E9p6-Xl2ulYFvYMVYqDMg3jSQ&hl=it&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjb35Lv0YXQAhVJzRQKHVDKBcE4ChDoAQggMAA#v=onepage&q=Hydrogen bonds H2S&f=false
And that just the different bond angles in H2O and H2S cause an inability to form the larger structures in H2S.

Hydrogen bonded structures involving -S-H of cysteine residues are known in proteins. http://web.unbc.ca/~rader/_publications/1991Gregoret.pdf .

So in more advanced studies and different contexts this absolute difference between the two atoms will be relativised - but till then what you have heard so far is much what you will hear. There is some nice pictorialisation and connection with other physics and biology here: http://www.slideshare.net/chungkin81/hydrogen-bonding.
 
  • #15
Reading the original question again, I think it is important to distinguish further to what extent H2S can act as hydrogen bond donator versus acceptor.
 
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