Term: van der Waals forces
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.V06597

Definition:
The attractive or repulsive forces between molecular entities (or between groups within the same molecular entity) other than those due to bond formation or to the electrostatic interaction of ions or of ionic groups with one another or with neutral molecules. The term includes: dipole–dipole, dipole-induced dipole and London (instantaneous induced dipole-induced dipole) forces. The term is sometimes used loosely for the totality of nonspecific attractive or repulsive intermolecular forces.

Related Terms:
1) molecular entities (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03986).
2) bond (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.B00697).
3) dipole–dipole (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01758).
4) dipole-induced dipole (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01759).
5) london (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03617).
6) intermolecular (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03098).

Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1175 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)

Citation: 'van der Waals forces' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.V06597

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