1. Methane (CH4): Methane is a simple hydrocarbon molecule composed of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. The carbon-hydrogen bonds within the molecule are primarily held together by van der Waals forces, specifically London dispersion forces. These weak intermolecular forces arise from temporary dipoles induced by the uneven distribution of electrons in the molecules. Despite being weak, these van der Waals forces are collectively responsible for holding methane molecules together in the liquid and solid states.
2. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a complex molecule that contains the genetic information in living organisms. The double helical structure of DNA is stabilized by a combination of hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs (adenine-thymine, guanine-cytosine) and van der Waals forces between the stacked base pairs. The van der Waals forces help maintain the close proximity of the stacked base pairs in the DNA double helix, contributing to the overall stability of the molecule.
3. Water (H2O): Water is a polar molecule, with the oxygen atom having a slight negative charge and the hydrogen atoms possessing a slight positive charge. The intermolecular forces between water molecules include not only hydrogen bonding but also van der Waals forces. In water, van der Waals forces, specifically dipole-dipole interactions, occur between the partially charged regions of neighboring water molecules. These forces contribute to the cohesion of water molecules, leading to the high surface tension and thermal properties of liquid water.
List and discuss three molecule that contains van der waals force
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