Ionic and Covalent Bonds, Hydrogen Bonds, van der Waals - 4 types of Chemical Bonds in Biology

There are four types of chemical bonds essential for life to exist: Ionic Bonds, Covalent Bonds, Hydrogen Bonds, and van der Waals interactions. We need all of these different kinds of bonds to play various roles in biochemical interactions.

These bonds vary in their strengths. In Chemistry, we think of Ionic Bonds and Covalent bonds as having an overlapping range of strengths. But remember, in biochemistry, everything is happening in the context of water. This means Ionic bonds tend to dissociate in water. Thus, we will think of these bonds in the following order (strongest to weakest): Covalent, Ionic, Hydrogen, and van der Waals. Also note that in Chemistry, the weakest bonds are more commonly referred to as “dispersion forces.”

Related Chemistry video:
Ionic Bonds vs Covalent Bonds

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Our current biology textbook recommendation is Campbell Biology from Pearson.

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For lighter reading, we recommend:
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

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Directed by Michael Harrison
Written and Produced by Kimberly Hatch Harrison

About our instructor:
Kimberly Hatch Harrison received degrees in Biology and English Literature from Caltech before working in pharmaceuticals research, developing drugs for autoimmune disorders. She then continued her studies in Molecular Biology (focusing on Immunology and Neurobiology) at Princeton University, where she began teaching as a graduate student. Her success in teaching convinced her to leave the glamorous world of biology research and turn to teaching full-time, accepting a position at an exclusive prep school, where she taught biology and chemistry for eight years. She is now the head writer and producer of Socratica Studios.

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Creative Commons Picture Credits:
Salt crystals
Author: W.J. Pilsak

Hydrogen Bonding in water
Author: Qwerter

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[Socratica]

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[tawnyhammett]

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[XenogeneGray]

1) Nonpolar covalent bonds, e.g. oxygen molecule
2) Polar covalent bonds, e.g. Hydrogen and Oxygen in same water molecule
3) Ionic bonds, e.g. NaCl
4) Hydrogen bonds, e.g. Hydrogen and Oxygen in different water molecules
5) Van der Waals force., e.g. between hydrocarbon molecules
Apparently if the force is with you, you don't bond too well, just like the Jedi :D

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