What is the difference between hydrogen bonds and dipole dipole interaction?

1 Answer
Mar 17, 2016

Hydrogen bonds are a special case of dipole-dipole interaction, but here the interaction is quite considerable.

Explanation:

Charge separation in molecules leads to dipolar interaction. Hydrogen forms many bonds with electronegative elements that tend to polarize electron density towards themselves. In both #OH_2# and #HF#, charge separation is so great that it becomes the dominant INTERMOLECULAR force, and manifests in the abnormally high boiling points of both first-row hydrides, with respect to the other hydrides of Group VI and VII. The same could also be said of ammonia, #NH_3#, for which such interaction is also apparent.

Other dipole-dipole interactions tend to be much less strong than this phenomenon. See this site for a sophisticated treatment. You will have to assess whether this is at an appropriate level.