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Energy density and structure stability are of key concerns in devising energy materials such as CNHO molecular crystals and the emerging cyclo-N 5 − complexes for desired explosive functionalities with a mechanism being open for exploration. An extension of the recent progress in solvation suggests that a combination of the intermolecular hydrogen bond (X:H–Y or HB with ':' being electron lone pair of X, Y = O or N) tension and the super-HB (X:⇔:Y) or anti-HB (H↔H) compression not only stabilizes the structure but also stores excessive energy by shortening the intramolecular bonds. The presence of the X:H constrains and the presence of the X:⇔:Y and/or H↔H fosters the explosion. Observations suggest that the absence of X:H–Y tension results in the spontaneous aquatic explosion of alkali metals and molten alkali halides. The lack of X:⇔:Y repulsion fosters no explosion of the molten NaCl in liquid NH 3 , nor the molten Na 2 CO 3 salt or H 3 BO 3 acid in water. The findings shall offer guidelines for devising efficient energy materials and reconciling the nature origin of water ice, aqueous solutions, and explosive energy materials – significance of electron lone pairs and protons. The combination of the hydrogen-bond (X:H–Y) tension and the super-HB (X:⇔:Y) or the anti-HB (H↔H) repulsion not only stabilizes the structure but also stores energy by shortening the intramolecular covalent bonds. The X:H tension constrains and the X:⇔:Y repulsion fosters explosion. Unlabelled Image • Segmental cooperativity of the X:H-Y oscillator pair dictates the behavior of aqueous solutions. • Excessive H+ or lone pairs ":" derive H↔H or X:⇔:Y repulsion in molecular crystals/liquids. • X:⇔:Y or/and H↔H repulsion and X:H-Y tension governs the stability and energy of crystals. • The absence/presence of the X:H-Y tension fosters the spontaneous/constrained explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]