Hydrogen bonding. Why isn't Cl included?

AI Thread Summary
Hydrogen bonding occurs primarily in molecules containing hydrogen and highly electronegative atoms such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and fluorine (F) due to their small atomic size and high electronegativity. Chlorine (Cl), despite having similar electronegativity to N, O, and F, is excluded from this list because it is larger in size, which affects the directional nature of hydrogen bonds. The smaller size of N, O, and F allows for stronger and more directional hydrogen bonds, making them more effective in forming these interactions compared to Cl.
CaptainZappo
Messages
92
Reaction score
0
I was wondering why hydrogen bonding only occurs in molecules containing H and one or more of the following: N, O, and F.

Why isn't Cl included in this list? The reason I ask is because the electronegativity of Cl is very close to (and even equal to one of) the electronegativities of the other atoms (N, O, and F), which would lead me to think it would have nearly the same effect on a hydrogen atom as the other three.

Thanks for any insight,
-Zachary Lindsey
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
I think is important the size of the atom.

Cl is bigger than the elements from second periode F, O, N

see this wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_radii_of_the_elements_%28data_page%29"

The H-bonding is very directional not only because the diferences between the electronegativity, is neccesary a no-metal small.

Sorry for my English, I hope you understand my words
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I understand you just fine. Thank you for the link. It seems like a nice resource.

Thanks again for the reply.
 
I want to test a humidity sensor with one or more saturated salt solutions. The table salt that I have on hand contains one of two anticaking agents, calcium silicate or sodium aluminosilicate. Will the presence of either of these additives (or iodine for that matter) significantly affect the equilibrium humidity? I searched and all the how-to-do-it guides did not address this question. One research paper I found reported that at 1.5% w/w calcium silicate increased the deliquescent point by...
Back
Top