[en] One studies four different ramifications of the presumed presence of intergalactic intra-cluster gas in sufficient quantities to bind groups and clusters of galaxies. Observational data on the intensity and isotropy of the extra-galactic component of the diffuse x-ray background severely restrict the amount of hot plasma which may be present in rich clusters of galaxies, however the bulk of the required binding mass may be present as somewhat cooler ionized clouds without causing a conflict with available data on the extragalactic contribution to the UV background. Groups, if thus bound, contribute significantly to the mean density of the universe and the number of absorption line systems predicted for quasars. An ''exclusion'' radius is calculated, inside of which no galaxy should be able to retain its gaseous component, and found to be in agreement with the observed distribution of spiral and irregular galaxies across the Coma cluster