Weak Noncovalent Attractions in the Cell Can Be Very Strong

Multiple Choice

Weak noncovalent attractions in the cell can be very strong in a nonaqueous environment. Some of these attractions are as strong as covalent interactions in a vacuum (their bond energy is approximately 340 kJ/mole) , but become more than twenty-five times weaker (their bond energy becomes approximately 13 kJ/mole) in water. What type of attraction shows this phenomenon?

A) Electrostatic attractions
B) Hydrogen bonds
C) van der Waals attractions
D) Hydrophobic force
E) All of the above