Which intermolecular force is primarily responsible for base pairing, and stability, of the double helix in dna? dipole-dipole hydrogen bonds covalent bonds ion-ion london dispersion forces?

Question

Chemistry

Greyson Hurst

26 August, 16:18

Which intermolecular force is primarily responsible for base pairing, and stability, of the double helix in dna? dipole-dipole hydrogen bonds covalent bonds ion-ion london dispersion forces?

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Answers (2)

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Yusuf Ellison · Answer 1

Hydrogen bonds

Explanation:

Hydrogen bonds are the intermolecular forces responsible for base pairing and double helix stability in DNA.

The hydrogen bonds that bind the two strands of DNA are "weak" covalent bonds, meaning they easily denature, which means that they separate and reconnect very easily.

Regarding the nitrogenous bases of DNA, Adenine is paired with Thymine, forming the A-T base pair, and there is double hydrogen bonding between these bases. In the same way that guanine binds to cytosine and forms the base pair G-C by triple hydrogen bonding. And the two chains link through weak hydrogen bridges between the nitrogenous bases of nucleotides, responsible for maintaining the double helix structure of DNA.

Harper Lang · Answer 2

Hydrogen bonds

Guanine-cytosine and adenine-thymine hydrogen bonds hold the strands of a DNA helix together.