What are Van der Waals Forces?
Van der Waals forces are a set of intermolecular forces that arise from the interaction between molecules. Unlike stronger covalent and ionic bonds, which involve the sharing or transfer of electrons between atoms, van der Waals forces are weaker and result from transient electrical charges that occur even in neutral molecules.
The strength of these forces ranges from 0.4 KJ.mol-1 to 4 KJ.mol-1. The force is extremely weak when the distance between the atoms is bigger than 0.6 nm. These forces are named after Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals, who first described them in the late 19th century.
Definition of Van der Waals Force of Attraction
Van der Waals forces are weak intermolecular attractions between atoms or molecules, arising from temporary or permanent dipoles. These include London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and induction forces, which are crucial for the physical properties of various substances.
Who is Johannes Diderik Van der Waals?
Johannes Diderik Van der Waals was a Dutch physicist. He formulated the Van der Waals equation of state. The Van der Waals force is named after him. It is a distance-dependent interaction between atoms or molecules. The force plays a fundamental role in various fields including surface science, matter physics, polymer science, and more.
Van Der Waals Force
Van der Waals forces are intermolecular forces. They include attraction and repulsion between atoms and molecules. This force is fundamental in diverse fields which include condensed matter physics, polymer science, nanotechnology, supra-molecular chemistry, biological structure, and surface science.
In this article, we look into Van der Waals forces their types, the equation of the Van der Waals force, and their applications.
Table of Content
- What are Van der Waals Forces?
- Types of Van der Waals Forces
- Keeson Interaction
- Debye Forces
- London Dispersion Forces
- Formula for Van der Waals Force
- Characteristics of Van der Waals Forces
- Factor Affecting Van der Waals Force
- Applications of Van der Waals forces