Van der Waals forces

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-012510",
  "term": "Van der Waals forces",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The non-covalent attractions and repulsions between molecules or other molecular entities, leaving out bond formation and the electrostatic interactions of ions with each other or with neutral molecules. Three contributions are distinguished: dipole-dipole (orientation) forces, dipole-induced dipole forces and the dispersion, or London, forces between instantaneous induced dipoles. The attractive energy between two molecules falls off roughly as the inverse sixth power of their separation.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "London forces",
    "bond",
    "dipole-dipole interaction",
    "intermolecular",
    "molecular entity"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1175 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/van-der-waals-forces/"
}