Intermolecular forces hold multiple molecules together and determine many of a substance's properties. All of the attractive forces between neutral atoms and molecules are known as van der Waals forces, although they are usually referred to more informally as intermolecular attraction.
Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction or repulsion which act between neighboring particles (atoms, molecules, or ions ). These forces are weak compared to the intramolecular forces, such as the covalent or ionic bonds between atoms in a molecule.
