Welcome Guest Search | Active Topics |

Tag as favorite
Electrostatic vs. Van der Waals
Kaylene_5146
#1 Posted : Wednesday, June 09, 2021 11:48:57 PM
Rank: Newbie

Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/4/2020
Posts: 7

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
What is the difference between electrostatic interactions and Van der Waals forces?
INSTR_Katrina_128
#2 Posted : Monday, June 14, 2021 3:31:34 PM
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/18/2021
Posts: 73

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
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.
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Tag as favorite
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Clean Slate theme by Jaben Cargman (Tiny Gecko)
Powered by YAF | YAF © 2003-2009, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.071 seconds.