Answer to Question #251793 in General Chemistry for say_umai

Question

Water is present in almost every living thing including human beings. It was discussed that water possesses a unique bond known as hydrogen bond. What do you think will happen if hydrogen bonding in water does not exist at all?

Answer 1

The most pronounced effect of having hydrogen bonds in water is on boiling point. Hydrogen bonds are strong and require high kinetic energy to break hence water having high boiling point unlike other molecules with covalent bonds.

If there are no hydrogen bonds at all in water molecules, then the boiling point would be extremely low just like many molecules with covalent bonds.

Given that most living organisms have a temperature above room temperature, it would mean that water will not exist in living organisms because it would evaporate. Unless organisms would evolve or develop a way to keep vapor in their cells, water would not exist in living cells.