Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Van der Waals Interactions

Van der Waals Interactions

Atoms and molecules interact with each other through intermolecular forces. These electrostatic forces arise from attractive or repulsive interactions between particles with permanent, partial, or temporary charges. The intermolecular forces between neutral atoms and molecules are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, and dispersion forces, collectively known as van der Waals forces.

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular Forces

Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen...

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular Forces

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent attractions are associations within and between molecules that influence the shape and structural stability of complexes. These interactions differ from covalent bonding in that they do not involve sharing of electrons.
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Cohesion

Cohesion

Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same type, such as water molecules. Water molecules have an overall neutral charge but are polar molecule. An oxygen atom in one water molecule has a partial negative charge that can bind to a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge in a second water molecule, forming a hydrogen bond. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are responsible for water's cohesive nature.
On a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Specific Ion Effects of Chaotropic and Superchaotropic Anions Probed by Raman Hydration-Shell Spectroscopy.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Influence of H<sup>+</sup>, OH<sup>-</sup> and salts on hydrophobic self-assembly.

Chemical science·2024

Same author

Interfacial chemical reactivity enhancement.

The Journal of chemical physics·2024

Same author

Quantifying the Nearly Random Microheterogeneity of Aqueous <i>tert</i>-Butyl Alcohol Solutions Using Vibrational Spectroscopy.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2023

Same author

Ion-Size Dependent Adsorption Crossover on the Surface of a Water Droplet.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2023

Same author

Electric buzz in a glass of pure water.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Measuring the Interaction Force Between a Droplet and a Super-hydrophobic Substrate by the Optical Lever Method

Measuring the Interaction Force Between a Droplet and a Super-hydrophobic Substrate by the Optical Lever Method

Published on: June 14, 2019

Water-Mediated Hydrophobic Interactions.

Dor Ben-Amotz¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907;

Annual Review of Physical Chemistry

|May 25, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Hydrophobic interactions depend on solute size and attraction. Water-mediated forces can oppose direct attraction, limiting hydrophobic effects to large areas greater than 1 nm².

Keywords:

compensation crossover enthalpy entropy free energy hydrophobic potential of mean force water-mediated

More Related Videos

Solubility of Hydrophobic Compounds in Aqueous Solution Using Combinations of Self-assembling Peptide and Amino Acid

Solubility of Hydrophobic Compounds in Aqueous Solution Using Combinations of Self-assembling Peptide and Amino Acid

Published on: September 20, 2017

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Measuring the Interaction Force Between a Droplet and a Super-hydrophobic Substrate by the Optical Lever Method

Measuring the Interaction Force Between a Droplet and a Super-hydrophobic Substrate by the Optical Lever Method

Published on: June 14, 2019

Solubility of Hydrophobic Compounds in Aqueous Solution Using Combinations of Self-assembling Peptide and Amino Acid

Solubility of Hydrophobic Compounds in Aqueous Solution Using Combinations of Self-assembling Peptide and Amino Acid

Published on: September 20, 2017

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

Area of Science:

Physical Chemistry
Colloid and Surface Chemistry
Biophysical Chemistry

Background:

Hydrophobic interactions are crucial for molecular self-assembly in aqueous environments.
These interactions are typically understood as arising from the tendency of nonpolar substances to minimize contact with water.
The role of water-mediated interactions and their dependence on solute properties are not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the complex interplay between direct solute attraction and water-mediated forces in hydrophobic interactions.
To determine how solute size and attraction influence the magnitude and sign of water-mediated interactions.
To establish the conditions under which hydrophobic interactions significantly overcome thermal energy.

Main Methods:

Theoretical modeling of solute-water interactions.
Analysis of the contributions of direct van der Waals forces and indirect water-mediated forces.
Calculation of the dependence of interaction potential on solute size and intermolecular attraction.

Main Results:

Hydrophobic interactions are a balance between direct attraction and water-mediated forces.
Water-mediated interactions can be repulsive, opposing direct attraction, and are sensitive to solute size.
Significant hydrophobic interactions, exceeding thermal fluctuations, require burying substantial water-exposed surface area (∼1 nm²).

Conclusions:

The net hydrophobic interaction is not solely attractive and is modulated by solute characteristics.
Repulsive water-mediated forces play a critical role, limiting the range and strength of hydrophobic effects.
Hydrophobic interactions are effective drivers for self-assembly only in processes involving significant changes in water-exposed surface area.