When hydrogen bonding is formed, the electron density on the donor atom (H) of the hydrogen bond decreases, but there is no information on how the electron density of the acceptor atoms (O, F) changes. Is the electron density of the acceptor increasing? Or is the electron cloud pulled to the bonding region causing a decrease?
When a hydrogen bond is formed, the electron density on the hydrogen (donor) atom decreases as it is shared with the more electronegative acceptor atom (typically O, N, or F). This creates a partially positive region on the hydrogen atom.
As for the acceptor atom, it experiences an increase in electron density. The shared electrons are drawn towards the more electronegative acceptor atom, resulting in a partial negative charge on the acceptor.
In summary, in a hydrogen bond:
- Electron density on the hydrogen (donor) atom decreases.
- Electron density on the acceptor atom increases.
This creates a dipole-dipole interaction between the partially positive hydrogen and the partially negative acceptor, contributing to the hydrogen bonding.
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