Bifurcated and Over-coordinated Hydrogen Bonds in Water
It can be that a single hydrogen atom participates in two hydrogen bonds, rather than one. This type of bonding is called "bifurcated" (split in two or 'two-forked'). It can exist for instance in complex natural or synthetic organic molecules It was suggested that a bifurcated hydrogen atom is an essential step in water reorientation.
Acceptor type hydrogen bonds (terminating on an oxygen's lone pairs), are more likely to form bifurcation (it is called overcoordinated oxygen, OCO) than donor type, beginning on the same oxygen's hydrogens.
Read more about this topic: Hydrogen Bond
Famous quotes containing the words hydrogen, bonds and/or water:
“The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces upon us the manufacture of the hydrogen bomb. We do not choose our problems, we do not choose our products; we are pushed, we are forced—by what? By a system which has no purpose and goal transcending it, and which makes man its appendix.”
—Erich Fromm (1900–1980)
“For, truly speaking, whoever provokes me to a good act or thought has given me a pledge of his fidelity to virtue,—he has come under the bonds to adhere to that cause to which we are jointly attached.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“A little water clears us of this deed.
How easy is it then!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)