Van der waals forces: Difference between revisions
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Electronic charge around an [[Atom|atom]] fluctuates, which means that charge distribution isn't symmetrical. [[Atom|Atoms]] induce complementary asymmetry in neighbouring atoms. The atoms then attract each other. Attraction increases as the two atoms come closer together until they are separated by van der waals contact distance, which is where repulsive forces become dominant because the outer electron clouds of the two [[Atom|atoms]] overlap. The effect of van der waals forces is larger for larger [[Molecule|molecules]]. | Electronic charge around an [[Atom|atom]] fluctuates, which means that charge distribution isn't symmetrical. [[Atom|Atoms]] induce complementary asymmetry in neighbouring atoms. The atoms then attract each other. Attraction increases as the two atoms come closer together until they are separated by van der waals contact distance, which is where repulsive forces become dominant because the outer electron clouds of the two [[Atom|atoms]] overlap. The effect of van der waals forces is larger for larger [[Molecule|molecules]]. | ||
As two atoms closely move towards each other at a certain distance they experience a weak attractive force know as Van der Waals attraction. This results in a distance at which attractive and repulsive forces balance out to produce an energy minimum in each atoms interaction with another non-bonded element.<ref name="null">Alberts, Bruce. "2." Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science, 2008. 51. Print.</ref> | |||
=== Reference === | |||
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Revision as of 10:53, 20 October 2014
Electronic charge around an atom fluctuates, which means that charge distribution isn't symmetrical. Atoms induce complementary asymmetry in neighbouring atoms. The atoms then attract each other. Attraction increases as the two atoms come closer together until they are separated by van der waals contact distance, which is where repulsive forces become dominant because the outer electron clouds of the two atoms overlap. The effect of van der waals forces is larger for larger molecules.
As two atoms closely move towards each other at a certain distance they experience a weak attractive force know as Van der Waals attraction. This results in a distance at which attractive and repulsive forces balance out to produce an energy minimum in each atoms interaction with another non-bonded element.[1]
Reference
- ↑ Alberts, Bruce. "2." Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science, 2008. 51. Print.