London dispersion force

Interaction energy of an argon dimer. The long-range section is due to London dispersion forces.

London dispersion forces (LDF, also known as dispersion forces, London forces, instantaneous dipole–induced dipole forces, fluctuating induced dipole bonds[1] or loosely as van der Waals forces) are a type of intermolecular force acting between atoms and molecules that are normally electrically symmetric; that is, the electrons are symmetrically distributed with respect to the nucleus.[2] They are part of the van der Waals forces. The LDF is named after the German physicist Fritz London. They are the weakest intermolecular force.

  1. ^ Callister, William (December 5, 2000). Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering: An Interactive e . Text. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 25. ISBN 0-471-39551-X.
  2. ^ Callister, William D. Jr.; Callister, William D. Jr. (2001). Fundamentals of materials science and engineering : an interactive etext. New York: Wiley. ISBN 0-471-39551-X. OCLC 45162154.