nonpovalent

Nonpovalent, often spelled noncovalent, refers to interactions between atoms or molecules that do not involve the sharing of electron pairs to form covalent bonds. These interactions are typically weaker than covalent bonds and are reversible, allowing dynamic association and dissociation in response to environmental conditions such as concentration, temperature, and solvent.

The main families of nonpovalent interactions include hydrogen bonds, ionic or electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged species, dipole-dipole interactions, and van der Waals forces (including London dispersion). Hydrophobic effects and pi-stacking (aromatic ring interactions) also play crucial roles in many systems. Metal coordination bonds can be categorized as noncovalent in certain contexts, particularly when they contribute to reversible assemblies rather than to permanent covalent linkage.

Strengths of nonpovalent interactions vary widely. In solution, individual contacts typically contribute a few kilojoules per mole to the overall binding energy, though some can be stronger under specific conditions. The solvent environment, temperature, and molecular geometry strongly influence both the strength and specificity of these interactions. Some noncovalent bonds are highly directional (such as hydrogen bonds and salt bridges), while others are more diffuse (such as dispersion forces).

Nonpovalent interactions are essential to biology and materials science. They govern molecular recognition, protein folding, and nucleic acid structure, as well as enzyme–substrate interactions and receptor–ligand binding. In chemistry and nanotechnology, they enable self-assembly, supramolecular design, crystal engineering, and drug development, where reversible, selective binding is often the key feature.