Hydrogen bonding occurs between hydrogen and which elements?

Hydrogen bonding is a specific interaction that occurs when hydrogen is covalently bonded to highly electronegative elements. These electronegative elements have a strong tendency to attract electrons, creating a significant dipole. The key elements that commonly engage in hydrogen bonding with hydrogen are nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine.

When hydrogen is bonded to these electronegative atoms, the hydrogen atom acquires a partial positive charge, allowing it to interact weakly with the lone pairs of electrons on nearby electronegative atoms. This interaction is a hallmark of hydrogen bonding, leading to unique properties in substances such as water, where strong hydrogen bonds create a range of physical characteristics.

Option C correctly identifies fluorine, nitrogen, and oxygen as the elements involved in hydrogen bonding due to their high electronegativity. Conversely, the other options include elements like carbon, neon, argon, chlorine, iodine, and bromine, which either do not exhibit the necessary electronegativity for hydrogen bonding or lack the properties needed to form such interactions effectively.