Final answer:
The hydrophobic bond is the type of interaction described, occurring when nonpolar molecules cluster together to exclude water, rather than due to direct attraction between the molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Hydrophobic Bonds in Biological Systems
The bond described in the question, which is not based on attraction between molecules but rather the avoidance of water, is the hydrophobic bond. Hydrophobic bonds are a result of hydrophobic interactions. These occur when nonpolar molecules or parts of molecules are in the presence of water and are driven together due to the exclusion from water, not because of an intrinsic attraction between the molecules. Such interactions are crucial for the proper folding of proteins and the formation of cell membranes.
Comparatively, van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds are indeed based on attractions between molecules. Van der Waals forces arise due to temporary fluctuations in the electron densities of atoms, causing transient dipole moments. Hydrogen bonds are seen when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom like oxygen or nitrogen also has an electrostatic interaction with another electronegative atom. Ionic bonds, on the other hand, form between oppositely charged ions.