London dispersion force

Under London forces is meant attractive forces between non-polar low molecules and atoms generated by spontaneous polarization in adjacent particles of a particle, and thereby induced dipoles. In quantum mechanics, such as interactions with the sixth power of the distance be treated sloping force field. They are named after the physicist Fritz London ( 1900-1954 ).

The London forces explain the existence of liquid and solid phases of nonpolar compounds (eg hydrogen bonds ) should not exist because of the repulsive interaction of its electron shells in the absence of other intermolecular interactions. London forces are much weaker than the other types of bonding. In computational chemistry, they are difficult to describe and parameterize.

In the literature, the terms " London - force ", " London dispersion " and " attractive van der Waals bond " are often used interchangeably.