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BIO NMDCAT Biological Importance of Water
nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

The maximum number of hydrogen bonds a single water molecule in liquid water can theoretically form is four, but the average number at any instant is lower due to

A. The constant making and breaking of these bonds due to thermal motion
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B. The presence of dissolved ions that permanently break hydrogen bonds
C. The linear geometry of the water molecule
D. The repulsion between the lone pairs of the oxygen atom

📝 Explanation

In ice, a rigid tetrahedral lattice yields exactly 4 H-bonds per molecule. In liquid water, thermal energy causes the bonds to constantly flicker, break, and re-form. This results in a dynamic, fluctuating network where the average number is closer to 3.4 rather than the maximum 4.

📖 Additional Information

  • The constant making and breaking of these bonds due to thermal motion
  • The presence of dissolved ions that permanently break hydrogen bonds
  • The linear geometry of the water molecule
  • The repulsion between the lone pairs of the oxygen atom

In ice, a rigid tetrahedral lattice yields exactly 4 H-bonds per molecule. In liquid water, thermal energy causes the bonds to constantly flicker, break, and re-form. This results in a dynamic, fluctuating network where the average number is closer to 3.4 rather than the maximum 4.

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