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What are the requirements of van der Waals force?

The van der Waal forces of interactions are weak intermolecular forces. For the atoms or molecules show these interactions only under certain conditions -

1) Distance- van der Waal forces mainly depend on the distance between the associated molecules. These forces become very weak if the distance between the molecules or atoms is greater. These forces are relatively stronger if the atoms or molecules are grouped closely.

2) Charge- The atoms or molecules must be neutral, polar, or /and nonpolar molecules, but they can never be ions since ionic interactions are powerful and treated separately.

 

The above excerpt supports the chapter Intermolecular Forces part of CurlyArrows' Introductory Organic Chemistry Course. Preview the Book.

Related Reading- Introduction to van Der Waals Forces

 

Intermolecular Forces
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Atom

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Electronic Displacement in a Covalent Bond

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Common Types of Reactions

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Drawing Organic Structures

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Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry

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Structural Isomerism

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Intermolecular Forces

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Fundamentals of Organic Reactions

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Reactive Intermediates

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Stereoisomerism - Conformation and Configurational Isomerism

  • Conformations in Organic Chemistry - An Introduction
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