van der Waals forces

Van der Waals forces are weak attractions that occur between molecules due to temporary changes in electron distribution. These forces arise when the electrons in a molecule create an uneven charge, leading to a slight positive charge on one side and a slight negative charge on the other. This polarity allows molecules to attract each other, even if they don't bond strongly. While they are much weaker than covalent or ionic bonds, Van der Waals forces are essential for many physical properties, such as the ability of geckos to walk on walls and the behavior of gases and liquids.