What are Van der Waals forces?

Van der Waals forces are indeed attractive forces that occur between separate molecules. These forces arise from temporary dipoles that occur when the electron distribution around a molecule becomes uneven, leading to regions of partial positive and negative charges. This phenomenon allows for interactions between molecules, even though they are not bonded together. Unlike covalent or ionic bonds, which are much stronger, Van der Waals forces are relatively weak and play a crucial role in influencing the physical properties of substances, such as boiling and melting points. They are significant in biological systems and molecular interactions, as they help maintain structure and stability in larger biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, albeit indirectly.