Dipole moment (𝜇)

Definition

A dipole moment is a measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a molecule, indicating the polarity of a bond or molecule. It is quantitatively expressed in units of Debye (D) and results from differences in electronegativity between bonded atoms.

Related terms

Polar Covalent Bond: A type of chemical bond where two atoms share a pair of electrons unequally, resulting in a partial positive charge on one atom and a partial negative charge on the other.

Electronegativity:

A measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons when it is part of a compound.

Molecular Polarity:

A characteristic of molecules that describes the uneven distribution of charge across its structure, leading to regions of partial positive and negative charges