I cannot for the life of me figure out how it works.
Edit: got it, thanks guys
In: 1
You have to imagine that electrons around an atomic nucleus are evenly distributed only on average.
It happens that while moving around the nucleus the electrons find themselves all ‘on the same side’ of the nucleus, so that this symmetrical distribution is broken.
When this happens the atom gains a partial positive electrical charge on the side that lacks electrons and a partial negative one on the side that has an over-abundance of electrons.
This instantaneous charges can affect atoms which are near the first atom, polarizing it.
(If the second atom is near to the negatively-charged side of the first one, it will gain a positive charge on the side near the first atom).
So you’ll have two electrical charges of opposite sign near each other, this will create a electrostatic force that will attracts the atoms to each other.
This situation of course lasts just a moment, the second after the electrons on the first atom will be differently distributed, so the force will fade away, this is why these forces are very weak.
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