Hydrogen bonds occur between hydrogen, which is connected to an electronegative atom and an electronegative atom of another molecule. This electronegative atom could be a fluorine, oxygen or nitrogen. Van der Waals forces can occur between two permanent dipoles, dipole- induced dipole, or two induced dipoles. For Van der Waals forces to take place, the molecule should not necessarily have a dipole, but Hydrogen bonding takes place between two permanent dipoles.


Hydrogen bonds are much stronger than Van der Waals forces.