repulsive potential
Quick Summary
The repulsive force in intermolecular interactions arises from the overlap of electron wave functions and the Pauli exclusion principle. This principle states that electrons with the same spin cannot occupy the same region of space. When two atoms or molecules approach each other, their electron clouds begin to overlap. If electrons with the same spin are forced into the same space, a strong repulsive force is generated, causing the potential energy to rise steeply. This is a fundamental aspect of why matter resists compression.1
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