Van der Waals' Forces in Diamond Structures

In summary, chemistry books often state that van der Waals' forces are the main force holding molecules together at a certain distance, but upon closer examination, the force is actually electrostatic. In regards to the question of whether there are van der Waals' forces between carbon atoms in a giant covalent diamond structure, there may be some dispersion forces present, but these are much weaker compared to the directional and strong covalent bonds between the atoms.
  • #1
mysqlpress
83
1
very often, most chemistry books claim that the dominant force helding the molecules together to a certain distance apart is van der Waals' forces, which is a kind of intermolecular forces; However, to investigate the forces microscopically, we found that the force is exactly electrostatic... Here I have a question.
diamond,having a giant covalent strucuture . is there any "van der Waals' forces" between the carbon atoms in the entire strucuture? or We ignore the existence because it is less dominant when compared with the directional, strong covalent bonds?
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
  • #2
Yes, there may be dispersion forces between the C-atoms, but these will be negligible compared to the strength of covalent bonding.
 
  • #3
Gokul43201 said:
Yes, there may be dispersion forces between the C-atoms, but these will be negligible compared to the strength of covalent bonding.
Thank you very much ^^
 

1. What are Van der Waals' forces in diamond structures?

Van der Waals' forces refer to the weak intermolecular or interatomic forces that exist between molecules or atoms. In diamond structures, these forces are caused by the slight attractions between neighboring molecules or atoms due to temporary dipoles that occur as a result of electron movements.

2. How do Van der Waals' forces affect the properties of diamond structures?

Van der Waals' forces play a crucial role in determining the physical and chemical properties of diamond structures. These forces contribute to the high melting and boiling points, as well as the hardness and stability, of diamonds. They also influence the optical and electrical properties of diamonds.

3. Are Van der Waals' forces the strongest intermolecular forces in diamond structures?

No, Van der Waals' forces are not the strongest intermolecular forces in diamond structures. In fact, they are considered the weakest intermolecular force. The strongest intermolecular forces in diamond structures are covalent bonds, which hold the carbon atoms together in a tightly packed lattice.

4. Can Van der Waals' forces be broken?

Yes, Van der Waals' forces can be broken. These forces are relatively weak and can be overcome by other intermolecular forces, such as hydrogen bonding or dipole-dipole interactions. They can also be broken by applying heat or pressure to the diamond structure.

5. How do Van der Waals' forces contribute to the formation of diamond structures?

Van der Waals' forces play a significant role in the formation of diamond structures. As carbon atoms come together in a lattice, they experience slight attractions due to temporary dipoles, which help to hold the structure together. Without these forces, the diamond structure would not be as stable and could not form in its characteristic tetrahedral shape.

Similar threads

About Van Der Waals interactions
    • Chemistry
Replies
2
Views
971
Van der Waals' Forces and Hydrogen Bonding
    • Chemistry
Replies
2
Views
2K
Implementing “Ab initio” approach in molecular mechanics method
    • Chemistry
Replies
4
Views
1K
I Wall material effect on Van der Waals gas?
    • Classical Physics
Replies
23
Views
1K
I Covalent Bonds -- Which type of force?
    • Atomic and Condensed Matter
Replies
8
Views
2K
I Van der Waals force in quantum physics
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
Van der Waals forces of hydrogen
    • Chemistry
Replies
6
Views
3K
I Van der Waals Equation: How Surface is Considered
    • Classical Physics
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
Calculating Van Der Waals Forces: Gecko Climbing Walls
    • Chemistry
Replies
4
Views
3K
I What is the origin of Van der Waals force?
    • Atomic and Condensed Matter
Replies
24
Views
7K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top