Strong and Weak Bond Overview

1. There are two major bond types: weak bonds between moleucles, and strong bonds between atom.
2. Weak bonds - van der Waals bonds
   1. All atoms and molecules have a weak attraction for each other. This is called the van der Waals attraction
   2. All liquids and some solids are formed through this kind of weak bond.
   3. Hydrogen bonds which are commonly referred to in biology, that hold the two strands of DNA together, and help shapre proteins into their proper conformation fall into this category.
3. Strong bonds - ionic and covalent
   1. When two atoms bond together very strongly they do so via either a covalent bond or an ionic bond.
   2. These bonds are MUCH stronger than the weak van der Waals bonds that help molecules to stick to each other.

   

    

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