Molecular Interactions are attractive or repulsive forces -help please

Molecular Interactions are attractive or repulsive forces between molecules and between non-bonded atoms.

I don't understand how they can be repulsive.

Also, when the term hydrophobic interactions is used, the interactions between hydrophobic molecules and water are being referred to, correct ?

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 1

Leah.J

Original post by theJoyfulGeek

Repulsive interactions are often related to electrostatics. You know that positive and positive charges repel, and negative and negative charges repel. Attractive forces occur between something positively charged (e.g. nucleus) and something negatively charged (e.g. electrons).

One example of repulsive molecular/atomic interactions is that two atomic nuclei can never come very close to each other, due to the repulsion between like positive charges. (This is one of the obstacles to making fusion feasible on a large scale). Or else, two positive ions won't attract each other - they'll repel.

I hope this helps!

Edit - also, yep! Hydrophobic interactions are between non-polar hydrophobes and water.