Van Der Waals Force Definition

noun
A weak attractive force between atoms or nonpolar molecules caused by a temporary change in dipole moment arising from a brief shift of orbital electrons to one side of one atom or molecule, creating a similar shift in adjacent atoms or molecules.
American Heritage

Origin of Van Der Waals Force

  • After Johannes Diderik van der Waals

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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