Van Der Waals Interactions Result When

Question

Van der Waals interactions result when
A) hybrid orbitals overlap.
B) electrons are not symmetrically distributed in a molecule.
C) molecules held by ionic bonds react with water.
D) two polar covalent bonds react.
E) a hydrogen atom loses an electron.

Accepted Answer

Van der Waals interactions are weak attractions between nonpolar molecules or regions of a molecule that result from fluctuations in electron density. In nonpolar molecules, electrons may not be symmetrically distributed, which causes temporary dipoles that attract neighboring molecules. This is the basis of Van der Waals interactions.