Partial Charges

Definition

Partial charges occur when atoms share electrons unequally in covalent bonds, leading to regions with slightly positive or negative charges within molecules.

Related terms

Polar Covalent Bond:

This type of bond occurs when one atom attracts shared electrons more than another, resulting in partial charges.

Electronegativity:

This term refers to an atom's ability to attract shared pairs of electrons towards itself during bonding.

Dipole Moment: A measure of the overall polarity (distribution of charge) within a molecule.