Dipole Moment
Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin
-
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am
Dipole Moment
I'm confused on how you can tell which direction the dipole moments of each atom in a molecule go. Can anyone clarify that concept?
-
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:05 am
- Been upvoted: 1 time
Re: Dipole Moment
The element with higher electronegativity (higher pull for electrons) will have negative sign, and the element with lower electronegativity (less pull for electrons) will have positive sign. It makes sense, because if you want 'negative' more strongly, you will have partially negative sign. For example, in a water molecule, H2O, Oxygen has higher electronegativity, thus has a partial negative charge, whereas Hydrogen has partial positive charge.
-
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 am
Re: Dipole Moment
The more electronegative atom will have a partial negative charge, and the less electronegative atom will have an equal but partial positive charge. When we draw an arrow to represent this, we draw it from the positive charge pointing to the negative charge (δ+ to δ-).
-
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am
Re: Dipole Moment
Its from the less electronegative atom to the more electronegative atom. So arrow goes from + ---> -
Return to “Determining Molecular Shape (VSEPR)”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests