What are molecular dipoles?

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What are molecular dipoles?

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Answer 1 · 2015-07-08T21:26:58

Molecular dipoles exist if one or more of the atoms is more electronegative than the other(s)

Explanation:

The most common dipole is water.

![https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Properties_of_water](useruploads.socratic.org)

Since $O$ $O$ is more electronegative than $H$ $H$ the shared electrons tend to be more in the neighbourhood of the $O$ $O$ -atom.
Since the molecule is 'bent' they tend to be more in the upper part of the figure above. This gives a slight negative charge (called $δ -$ $delta-$ ) at the top, and a $δ +$ $delta+$ at the $H$ $H$ -arms.

Since $+$ $+$ and $-$ $-$ attract, the next molecule will tend to turn one of its $H$ $H$ 's toward the $O$ $O$ of the first one.

This polarity also has many consequences for the behaviour of a polar liquid like boiling point, solvability, etc. and even the shape of snow flakes.

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What are molecular dipoles?

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