26 The gecko is a reptile that has the amazing ability to cl

26. The gecko is a reptile that has the amazing ability to climb smooth surfaces--even glass! Recent discoveries indicate that geckos stick to smooth surfaces via van der Waals interactions between septae on their feet and the smooth surface. How is this method of stickiness advantageous to the gecko over covalent interactions?

Solution

Answer

Geckos are lizardsfound in warm climates throughout the world

They belong to the infraorder Gekkota

Since Van der Waals interactions are relatively weak compared to covalent bonds

Therefore, Van der Waals interactions would stick the gecko to the surface reversibly