van der Waals forces


van der Waals forces

noun pl
\ˈvan-dər-ˌwlz-, ˈvän-dər-ˌvälz-\

Definition of VAN DER WAALS FORCES

: the relatively weak attractive forces that act on neutral atoms and molecules and that arise because of the electric polarization induced in each of the particles by the presence of other particles

Origin of VAN DER WAALS FORCES

Johannes D. van der Waals †1923 Dutch physicist
First Known Use: 1939

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