Van der Waals forces specifically refer to the intermolecular forces that act between uncharged molecules and do not include covalent or ionic bonds. These forces encompass dipole-dipole interactions, dipole-induced dipole interactions, and induced dipole-induced dipole interactions, commonly known as London dispersion forces. While hydrogen bonds can be categorized as a type of dipole-dipole interaction, they possess distinct properties that warrant their classification as a separate type of intermolecular interaction, distinct from van der Waals forces.
