van der Waals forces
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
van der Waals forc·es
(von der vahls),first postulated by van der Waals in 1873 to explain deviations from ideal gas behavior seen in real gases; the attractive forces between atoms or molecules other than electrostatic (ionic), covalent (sharing of electrons), or hydrogen bonding (sharing a proton); generally ascribed to dipolar and dispersion effects, π-electrons, and the like; these relatively nondescript forces contribute to the mutual attraction of organic molecules.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
van der Waals forc·es
(vahn der valz fōrs'ĕz)Attractions first postulated by J.D. van der Waals in 1873 to explain deviations from ideal gas behavior seen in real gases; the attractive forces between atoms or molecules other than electrostatic (ionic), covalent (sharing of electrons), or hydrogen bonding (sharing a proton); generally ascribed to dipolar and dispersion effects, π-electrons, and other factors; these relatively nondescript forces contribute to the mutual attraction of organic molecules.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
van der Waals forces
Weak attractions between non-polar parts of molecules. (Johannes D. van der Waals, Dutch physicist and Nobel laureate, 1837–1923).Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
van der Waals,
Johannes D., Dutch physicist and Nobel laureate, 1837-1923.van der Waals forces - explains deviations from ideal gas behavior seen in real gases. Synonym(s): London forces
Medical Eponyms © Farlex 2012