BRAINCAKEVan der Waals forces
Intermolecular forces are weak interactions between the dipoles of molecules. There are three types of intermolecular forces: induced dipole-dipole interactions (London forces), permanent dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonds. Intermolecular forces are largely responsible for physical properties such as melting and boiling points.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Dipole
- A separation of opposite partial charges caused by an uneven distribution of the bonding electron pair.
- Permanent dipole-dipole interactions
- Attractive forces between the permanent dipoles of polar molecules.
- Hydrogen bond
- A strong permanent dipole-dipole interaction between a hydrogen atom bonded to N, O or F and a lone pair on an electronegative N, O or F atom of another molecule.
More in Bonding
- Electronegativity
- Trends in Electronegativity
- Polar Covalent Bonds
- Dipole-Dipole Forces
- Hydrogen Bonding
- Boiling Point of Hydrides
- The Importance of Hydrogen Bonding
- Electron Pair Repulsion Theory
All 30 lessons in Bonding · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics