Question

Name three intermolecular forces that stabilize the shape of DNA, and explain how they act.

Short answer

The intermolecular forces which stabilize the shape of DNA are ion-dipole and H-bonds at the exterior and dispersion force at the interior. But the complementary base sequence plays the most important part in stabilizing the shape.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of intermolecular force

DNA contains the genetic code of a living being. The intermolecular forces between the complementary base pairs are responsible for the spiral structure of DNA.

Stabilization of the shape of DNA

In DNA, there are negatively charged sugar-phosphate chains that may form ion-dipole interaction or H-bonds with the exterior water medium. Whereas, the interior, dispersion force comes into play where the nitrogen bases stack over each other. But, mainly, the base pairs adenosine-thymine and guanine-cytosine are the most important for stabilizing the shape.