How are ionic bonds and van der Waals forces similar and different?

Answer 1

This is a chemistry question.
Both ionic bonds and van der Waals forces are usually considered as intermolecular forces or IMF. However, ionic bonds are much stronger than van der Waals forces.

Answer 2

Well, ionic bonds actually BOND two atoms together in an ionic compound due to the charge differences on their separate ion. Thus, they are INTRA-molecular forces between the ions in a particular compound. On the other hand, van der Waals forces collectively refer to INTER-molecular forces between the ions of OTHER COMPOUNDS. For example, suppose their are two formula units of NaCl. The ionic bond refers to the attraction between Na and Cl, while the collective van der Waals forces refer to the attraction of one of the Na+ ions to the other Cl- ions. Hence, ionic bonds and van der Waals differ in the sense that ionic bonds are intramolecular forces, while van der Waals forces refer to attractions between atoms from different compounds/formula units. They are similar in the sense that they both depend on the electrostatic interactions of the ions and atoms.