What role do hydrogen bonds play in the boiling points of water?

Hydrogen bonds significantly influence the boiling points of substances, particularly in water. Water molecules exhibit strong hydrogen bonding due to the presence of highly electronegative oxygen atoms and the hydrogen atoms bonded to them. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with neighboring water molecules, creating a network of interactions that stabilizes the liquid state.

When heat is applied to water, energy is required to overcome these hydrogen bonds before the molecules can transition from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase (boiling). As a result, water has a relatively high boiling point compared to other molecules of similar size and mass that do not engage in hydrogen bonding. This high boiling point is attributed to the energy needed to break these strong intermolecular forces.

In summary, hydrogen bonds play a crucial role in increasing the boiling point of water, as they require additional energy to disrupt these interactions during the phase change from liquid to gas.