A. F. B. van der Waals

A. F. B. van der Waals was a physicist who improved our understanding of how molecules interact. He developed the van der Waals equation, which describes the behavior of gases more accurately by accounting for the space molecules take up and the forces between them. Unlike ideal gas laws, his equation considers that molecules have size and attract each other, explaining phenomena like condensation and liquefaction at certain temperatures and pressures. His work was fundamental in advancing thermodynamics and understanding real-world gases and liquids.