Bond Dipoles

Definition

Bond dipoles occur when there is a difference in electronegativity between two atoms bonded together, causing an uneven distribution of electron density and creating partial positive and negative charges at each end.

Related terms

Electronegativity:

The measure of an atom's ability to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond.

Dipole Moment: A measure of the polarity of a molecule, calculated as the product of charge and distance between charges.

Ionic Bond:

A type of chemical bond where one atom completely transfers its valence electrons to another atom.