Hydrogen bonds?

Question

I read somewhere on some website that hydrogen bonds are the attraction between the hydrogen atoms of one H2O molecule and the oxygen atom of another, because the hydrogen atoms of the H2O molecule are positive and the oxygen atoms are negative. But if it is simply positive-negative attraction then what makes it unique to "hydrogen" does this occur with othe kinds of atoms of any other molecule? I dont understand why it is called "hydrogen bonds" if it is just attraction because of polarity!

Answer 1

Any time there is an electronegativity difference between two atoms in a covalent bond, there is polarity. Hydrogen bonding is just the term used for a particularly strong electrostatic attraction where hydrogen is covalently bonded to oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine. The electronegativity difference in these bonds is particularly large, so the partial positive charge of the hydrogen and the partial negative charge of the other atom are particularly large, thus giving an unusually strong electrostatic attraction between molecules.

Answer 2

A hydrogen bond is a special type of attractive interaction that exists between an electronegative atom and a hydrogen atom bonded to another electronegative atom. This type of bond always involves a hydrogen atom, thus the name. Hydrogen bonds can occur between molecules (intermolecularly), or within different parts of a single molecule (intramolecularly).The typical hydrogen bond is stronger than van der Waals forces, but weaker than covalent or ionic bonds.