intermolecular compression

Intermolecular compression is a phenomenon in physics where the distances between molecules decrease due to applied stress. This reduction in volume is observed in all materials under high pressure.12

In solids, intermolecular compression is one of three principal mechanisms, alongside bond compression and bond-angle bending. For molecular solids, which consist of discrete molecules held by weak forces like van der Waals forces, compression primarily occurs through large decreases in the distances between molecules, rather than changes within the molecules themselves. This is in contrast to covalent or ionic bonds, which are much stronger and less compressible.23

The forces between molecules, known as intermolecular forces, are generally much weaker than the chemical bonds within molecules. These forces are responsible for phenomena like gases liquefying and liquids existing as distinct entities. The repulsive force between molecules arises from the overlap of electron wave functions and the Pauli exclusion principle, preventing electrons with the same spin from occupying the same space.34