VANDER WAALS FORCES
Relatively weak electrical forces that attract
neutral (uncharged) molecules to each other in gases, liquefied and solidified
gases, and almost all organic liquids and solids.
Solids held together by van der Waals forces
typically have lower melting points and are softer than those held together by
ionic, covalent, or metallic bonds (see bonding). The forces arise because
neutral molecules, though uncharged, are usually electric dipoles, which have a
tendency to align with each other and to induce further polarization in
neighbouring molecules, resulting in a net attractive force. They are somewhat
weaker than the forces involved in hydrogen bonding. See also Johannes D. van
der Waals
