Intermolecular Interactions

Abstract

Intermolecular interactions is a difficult topic to probe not because it is a rare phenomenon or so subtle that it escapes detection but rather because of varied opinion among scientists as to what exactly constitutes “a molecule.” Most structural chemists who investigate the architecture of matter at the picometer level ordinarily presuppose that the concept of “a molecule” is well established in a fashion similar to that of the periodic chart and if asked, happily sketch out several examples that they are currently characterizing. A summary of such responses provides a rather sweeping range of examples (i.e. definitions); moreover, if responses from material scientists, physicists or molecular biologists are included, an impressive spectrum is revealed limited by the few who argue at the extremes that no definition of “a molecule” adequately communicates anything useful about the structure of matter. Diversity such as this provides a compelling argument for a concerted effort towards establishing a consensus as to what “a molecule” is before meaningful discussion can begin regarding interactions between molecules. Indeed, when a concept as central as that of “a molecule” becomes increasingly difficult to pin down, it becomes imperative for a group of scientists with diverse backgrounds to gather and analyze the problem from a variety of angles. In Africa such a gathering is called an Indaba.