What is another name for dispersion forces, which also include dipole interactions?

Dispersion forces, often referred to as Van der Waals forces, are weak intermolecular forces that arise from temporary fluctuations in electron density within molecules. These fluctuations create temporary dipoles, which can induce dipoles in neighboring molecules, leading to an attractive force between them.

This name, Van der Waals forces, encompasses several types of intermolecular interactions, including dispersion forces (also known as London dispersion forces) and dipole-dipole interactions. Although dispersion forces are particularly significant in nonpolar molecules, they are still a vital component of the overall intermolecular forces that act between all types of molecules.

Covalent bonding forces, ionic interactions, and hydrogen bonding interactions represent different types of chemical bonding and forces that occur within or between molecules but do not include the non-specific, weak interactions represented by dispersion forces. As a result, the term Van der Waals forces is the broader and more accurate classification for dispersion forces and their related interactions.