Module 1 : Introduction to materials

Lecture 4: Carbon chemistry – physical and chemical properties

 

van der Waals forces

Methane has no net dipole moment.

However when two molecules come in close contact, their electron clouds repel one another.

The result is an induced dipole, albeit a small one.

The electron deficient part of one molecule attracts the electron rich part of another.

The dipoles continually change but the net result is an attraction between the molecules.