ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Intermolecular force

Imagine you have a bunch of toys in a toy box. These toys have a special power that makes them stick to each other. This power is called intermolecular force.

Now, if you take out two toys from the box and try to push them together, you will feel a resistance because of this force. This means that the toys are attracted to each other and they stick together.

Just like the toys, atoms and molecules also have intermolecular force. They have tiny, invisible forces that attract them to other atoms and molecules. These forces are what keep everything together, like how the toys stay together in the toy box.

So, when molecules come close to each other, their intermolecular force kicks in and they stick together, just like how magnets stick together. This force is what makes water molecules stick together to form drops, and is also responsible for the stickiness of glue.

In summary, intermolecular force is a special power that attracts atoms and molecules to each other, just like how toys in a box stick together.