What are molecular dipoles?

1 Answer
MeneerNask ยท Stefan V.
Jul 8, 2015

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_waterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Properties_of_water

Since O is more electronegative than H the shared electrons tend to be more in the neighbourhood of the 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 delta-) at the top, and a delta+ at the H-arms.

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