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)
“What we often take to be family values—the work ethic, honesty, clean living, marital fidelity, and individual responsibility—are in fact social, religious, or cultural values. To be sure, these values are transmitted by parents to their children and are familial in that sense. They do not, however, originate within the family. It is the value of close relationships with other family members, and the importance of these bonds relative to other needs.”
—David Elkind (20th century)
“It may be that through habit these do best,
Coming to water clumsily undressed
Yearly; teaching their children by a sort
Of clowning; helping the old, too, as they ought.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)