A hydrogen bond is best described as

• A. A strong ionic bond between hydrogen and oxygen
• B. A covalent bond among hydrogen molecules
• C. A type of Van der Waals interaction that involves hydrogen
• D. A metallic bond involving hydrogen

Answer: (C)

Hydrogen bonding is a relatively strong electrostatic attraction that occurs when a hydrogen atom is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine) and is attracted to a lone pair on another electronegative atom. This interaction sits between a typical dipole-dipole interaction and stronger covalent/ionic bonds, and it specifically involves hydrogen. That’s why the best description is a type of Van der Waals–style interaction that involves hydrogen, reflecting its status as a distinct, hydrogen-centered intermolecular force. The other options describe ionic, covalent, or metallic bonds, which are not what hydrogen bonds are.