![]() ![]() These bonds give rise to the unique properties of water and the unique structures of DNA and proteins. Two weak bonds that occur frequently are hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions. These are attractions that occur between positive and negative charges that do not require much energy to break. However, not all bonds between elements are ionic or covalent bonds. Ionic and covalent bonds are strong bonds that require considerable energy to break. This sharing is a lower energy state for all of the atoms involved than if they existed without their outer shells filled. The electrons are shared between the atoms, dividing their time between them to "fill" the outer shell of each. ![]() To completely fill the outer shell of an oxygen atom, two electrons from two hydrogen atoms are needed, hence the subscript "2" in H2O. The electron from the hydrogen atom divides its time between the outer shell of the hydrogen atom and the incomplete outer shell of the oxygen atom. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms that combine to form water molecules are bound together by covalent bonds. Unlike ionic bonds, covalent bonds do not dissociate in water. Covalent bonds form between the elements that make up the biological molecules in our cells. ![]() These bonds form when an electron is shared between two elements and are the strongest and most common form of chemical bond in living organisms. Another type of strong chemical bond between two or more atoms is a covalent bond. ![]()
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