Dipole moment

Definition

Dipole moment is a measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a molecule. It indicates the polarity of a chemical bond or molecule.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A dipole moment occurs in molecules with polar covalent bonds.
2. The dipole moment is represented by an arrow pointing from the positive to the negative charge.
3. Units for measuring dipole moments are Debye units (D).
4. Molecules with higher dipole moments are more polar.
5. The net dipole moment of a molecule depends on both the magnitude and direction of individual bond dipoles.

Review Questions

• What conditions must be met for a molecule to have a dipole moment?
• How is the direction of the dipole moment represented in molecular diagrams?
• In what units are dipole moments measured?

Related terms

Electronegativity:

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

Polar Covalent Bond:

A type of covalent bond where electrons are unequally shared between atoms, leading to partial charges.

Molecular Geometry:

The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule which influences its polarity.