Answer:
Van der Waals forces are very strongly repulsive to each other at short nuclear distances.
Explanation:
The Van der Waals forces are the short range forces which acts only for the order of intermolecular distances.
This force is attractive or repulsive between two molecules or atoms depending upon the distance of separation between them, it is repulsive for the distance of the order of size of the nucleus and attractive when the distance is short but larger than the order of size of nucleus.
Theses forces are comparatively weaker than the ionic or covalent bond. These forces are anisotropic in nature which means these do not depend on the orientation of the molecules.
Thus, the correct statement to fill the blank is "Van der Waals forces are very strongly repulsive to each other at short nuclear distances".
