Which type of bond forms between water molecules?

Water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds, which are a type of weak attraction that occurs between the positively charged hydrogen atoms of one water molecule and the negatively charged oxygen atoms of adjacent water molecules. This bonding is crucial because it contributes significantly to water's unique properties, such as its high surface tension, high specific heat, and its ability to dissolve many substances. These hydrogen bonds enable water to remain liquid at a wider range of temperatures compared to other similarly sized molecules.

In contrast, covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, which is how the individual water molecule itself forms (between hydrogen and oxygen within a single molecule). Ionic bonds, on the other hand, result from the attraction between charged ions, which is not applicable to the interactions between water molecules. Lastly, disulfide bonds are specific covalent bonds that typically form between cysteine residues in proteins and are not relevant to water molecule interactions.