The atoms in organic molecules are held together by what type of bonds?

Most organic molecules are made up of electron-precise COVALENT bonds, which share electrons between positively charged atomic nuclei, and which link carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Van der Waals interactions come in three different varieties.

The dipole-dipole interaction, also known as the Keeson interaction, is the first type of electrostatic interaction that occurs between polar molecules (i.e., molecules that carry an electric charge). The strength of this interaction is typically high and is dependent on the distance between the molecules as well as their partial charges.

The hydrogen bond is a specific kind of dipole-dipole interaction that takes place when a small, highly electronegative atom is covalently bound to a hydrogen atom. In this scenario, the small atom picks up electrons from the hydrogen atom, making it slightly negatively charged; consequently, the hydrogen atom becomes slightly positively charged and is able to form a bond with another electronegative atom.

DNA is an example of an organic molecule that has a hydrogen bond; this kind of interaction is weaker than ionic or covalent bonding, but stronger than other dipole-dipole interactions.

When an atom is placed in an electric field, its electron cloud is distorted and drawn to the positive pole; the positively charged nucleus does the same, becoming attracted to the negative pole; this process creates an induced dipole, which bonds with the permanent dipole. This second interaction is known as the Debye force, or the permanent dipole-induced dipole, and it happens between polar and non-polar molecules.

The final interaction is the London force, which occurs between an instantaneous dipole and an induced dipole, that is, between non-polar molecules. An instantaneous dipole is created when an electron moves around the nucleus of a non-polar atom, producing an electronic field that in turn creates an induced dipole that will bond with the instantaneous dipole.

The atoms in organic molecules are held together primarily by covalent bonds. These bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms to achieve stability. Additionally, organic molecules may also contain other types of bonds such as hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and van der Waals forces, which contribute to their overall structure and properties.