J. H. W. D. van der Waals

J. H. W. D. van der Waals was a physicist who developed a theory explaining how small particles like molecules interact and behave as gases or liquids change. He introduced mathematical corrections to understand real gases better than ideal models, accounting for the forces between molecules and their finite sizes. His work led to the Van der Waals equation, helping scientists predict when a substance transitions from a gas to a liquid (phase change). This advancement deepened our understanding of matter's behavior, especially near critical points, and laid the foundation for modern thermodynamics and material science.