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_____ ___ ____ bonding is an electrostatic but relatively weak bond in certain layered minerals.

A. Covalent
B. Metallic
C. Van der Waals
D. Ionic

User Ed Mozley
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1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

Van der Waals bonding is the correct answer; it refers to the weak electrostatic attractions between layers in certain minerals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of electrostatic but relatively weak bond found in certain layered minerals is a Van der Waals bond. Unlike metallic, ionic, or covalent bonds, Van der Waals bonds are the result of transient polarizations within molecules, leading to the attraction between them. These interactions are much weaker compared to the strong bonds formed by the electrostatic attractions in ionic bonding, or the shared electrons in covalent bonding; these tend to be stronger due to the direct involvement of electrons in maintaining the structure of the bonded materials. Van der Waals bonds allow for layering in some materials because they provide enough force to hold layers together while still allowing them to slide over one another when force is applied. This is indicative of the layered structure of materials like graphite, where layers are held together by these weak Van der Waals forces.

User ArleyM
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