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Electrostatic vs. Van der Waals
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Kaylene_5146
#1 Posted : Wednesday, June 09, 2021 11:48:57 PM
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What is the difference between electrostatic interactions and Van der Waals forces?
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INSTR_Katrina_128
#2 Posted : Monday, June 14, 2021 3:31:34 PM
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Great question, Kaylene!

Electrostatic interactions are a huge category of non-covalent interactions between atoms/molecules.

Electrostatic interactions include ionic interactions and hydrogen bonding. The magnitude of these forces can be calculated using Coulomb's law (one of those fancy schmancy inverse square laws). These are very strong intermolecular interactions!

Van der Waals interactions are a SUBCATEGORY of electrostatic interactions. But... they are weaker. Van der Waals forces include dipole-dipole interactions, induced dipole-dipole, and London dispersion forces.
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