This is a flash file made from a short molecular dynamics simulation of water. The green lines represent hydrogen bonds between oxygen and hydrogen. Notice the tight structure of water

Hydrogen bonds are much weaker than covalent bonds. However, when a large number of hydrogen bonds act in unison they will make a strong contributory effect. This is the case in water shown here.

Liquid water has a partially ordered structure in which hydrogen bonds are constantly being formed and breaking up. Because of the short time scale (on the order of a few picoseconds) few bonds are seen breaking.

Return to the Water Module