Science
Related: About this forumSee The World's First Images Of Actual Hydrogen Bonds
Scientists have just seen for the first time one of the most important physical interactions in our world the special type of bond called the hydrogen bond that holds our DNA together and gives water its unique properties, including surface tension.
When a tiny hydrogen atom is in a molecule with a much bigger atom, like nitrogen or oxygen (for example, in water), that larger atom, pulls away some of the negative charge from the smaller one, giving the smaller one a slightly positive charge on one edge. That slightly positive charge is electrically attracted to the slightly negative charge on the large atom of another molecule.
In the image to the right you can see the big red atoms (oxygen in this case) exert a pull on the hydrogen atoms in other water molecules around it. Those dashed lines are the hydrogen bonds.
Now we can actually see a real picture of a hydrogen bond between molecules of 8-Hydroxyquinoline in the images below. The chemical forms hydrogen bonds and lies flat in one plane, so it's easier to visualize.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/first-images-of-a-hydrogen-bond-2013-9
Skinner
(63,645 posts)byronius
(7,369 posts)inch4progress
(270 posts)More money for science= more great discoveries.
nikto
(3,284 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)nikto
(3,284 posts)Peace Patriot
(24,010 posts)nt
66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)The "Ferrous" Wheel
http://funhoo.com/pics/fun-pics-2/attachment/ferrous-wheel/
CrispyQ
(36,223 posts)DhhD
(4,695 posts)a linear cloud between the atoms. Other electrons moving around the atoms are in a cloud too. Very cool to finally see it.
CrispyQ
(36,223 posts)I just bought a tee shirt that reads:
Never trust an atom
They make up everything.
Liberal_Dog
(11,075 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,436 posts)Way cool!