What is the difference between a dipole and an induced-dipole?

1 Answer
Bio
Jan 7, 2016

Induced dipole has no permanant dipole moment.

Explanation:

A dipole moment is a result of the distribution of the electron cloud in a polar molecule. Electronegative elements tend to draw electrons to themselves, so molecules such as HCl have a dipole moment, where the H is (#delta^+#) electron deficient an the Cl is electron rich (#delta^-#).

In non-polar molecules, such as #"O"_2#, the electrons are evenly distributed and hence resulting in no net dipole moment. However, in the presence of external electric field (or some other disturbance), the electrons will reorganize themselves, causing the molecule to have a temporary dipole.

The side of the molecule with #delta^+# will tend to attract the electrons of neighboring molecules, thus causing the neighboring molecules to get polarized. This effect carries on, inducing a dipole in many other molecules. This effect is similar to induced magnetism.

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