Introduction

So who was he?

What are Van der
Waals forces?

What's his equation
all about?

Get to the lizards already

Other stuff

Links and references

What are Van der Waals forces?

There is some confusion about this in A-Level syllabuses, as generally people are told that Van der Waals forces arise from the interactions between temporary dipoles in electron clouds, and have nothing to do with permanent dipoles or hydrogen bonds.  In fact, all intermolecular attractions are known collectively as Van der Waals forces.  Each force was discovered and explained at a different time, and so have separate names.  This page covers:

• London, or dispersion forces (formerly known as Van der Waals forces)

• Keesom forces (formerly known as dipole-dipole interactions)

Both these forces are weak in themselves, but they can significantly alter properties such as melting and boiling points.  The greater the interactions between atoms the higher the melting and boiling points, as more energy is required to break separate the atoms in the material in solid or liquid state.

London forces These are caused by random fluctuations in electron density in an electron cloud.  As electrons can arrange themselves anywhere within their orbitals, they may often find themselves grouped towards one side of the atom.  This gives the electron rich side of the atom a δ- charge, and the electron deficient side a δ+ charge, both of which attract and repel neighbouring dipoles.  These temporary dipole may of course reverse direction, repelling and attracting in turn, inducing dipoles in neighbouring atoms.  An atom with a large number of electrons will have a greater associated London force than a smaller atom.  This accounts for the increase in melting and boiling points moving down groups.

Animation from:207.10.97.102/chemzone/lessons /03bonding/mleebonding/van_der_waals_forces.htm

Keesom forces