What is a characteristic of hydrogen bonds?

Hydrogen bonds are primarily characterized by the attraction between partial positive and partial negative charges. In a hydrogen bond, usually, a hydrogen atom that is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (like oxygen or nitrogen) exhibits a slight positive charge. This positive charge is attracted to a lone pair of electrons on another electronegative atom, creating the hydrogen bond. This type of bond is crucial in biological systems, such as the structure of water and the formation of secondary structures in proteins.

The concept of attraction between partial charges highlights the nature of the interaction, differentiating it from stronger bonds like covalent or ionic bonds, where electron sharing or transfer occurs. Thus, the focus on the attraction between charges captures the essence of how hydrogen bonds function at a molecular level, making it the correct characteristic.