Cohesive Forces

Definition

Cohesive forces are the intermolecular forces which cause a tendency in liquids to resist separation. These attractive forces exist between similar or identical particles.

Analogy

Think of cohesive forces like the bond between best friends. They stick together, no matter what. In a liquid, molecules behave like these best friends, sticking together and resisting being pulled apart.

Related terms

Hydrogen Bonding: This is a special type of dipole-dipole attraction between molecules, where a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom is attracted to another electronegative atom in another molecule.

Van der Waals Forces: These are distance-dependent interactions between atoms or molecules that are not bonded together.

Dipole-Dipole Interaction: This is an attractive force that results from the interaction of polar molecules, which have regions of positive and negative charge.