Dipoles

[Zenita Leang 2K]

What is a dipole and how are they determined?

[Diana Bibireata 1B]

When there is a difference between the electronegativity of two atoms a partial charge forms. The atom with more pulling power has a greater share of electrons so it has a negative partial charge which means it has a negative dipole.

[Keshav Bhatnagar 1H]

I will give an example that will hopefully help:

Consider CH3Cl. It will be in a tetraderal shape and because chlorine is so electronegative it will have a slight negative charge thus creating a dipole.

Consider CH2Cl with the Cl on opposite sides. This will also be in a tertrahedral shape, but the opposite chlorines cancel out the dipole resulting in a neutral charge.