Intermolecular force facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In physics, chemistry, and biology, intermolecular forces are forces that act between stable molecules or between functional groups of macromolecules.

These forces are generally much weaker than the chemical bonding forces. Their bonding energies are less than a few kcal/mol. But they are responsible for many different physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. In general one distinguishes short and long range intermolecular forces. (The molecule is a substance are held together by the forces acting between the molecules which are called inter-molecular forces)