H.J. W. van der Waals

H.J. W. van der Waals was a scientist who developed a theory to explain how molecules interact with each other, especially in gases and liquids. He introduced the idea that molecules have sizes and attractions—these forces influence how substances behave, such as boiling points and states of matter. His work led to the van der Waals equation, which improves upon ideal gas laws by accounting for these interactions. This helped scientists better understand and predict the properties of real-world materials, bridging the gap between idealized models and actual behavior of gases and liquids.