Dipole Moment Practice
Draw an arrow for the net dipole, or tap "No Dipole."
Common Questions
What is a dipole moment?
A dipole moment is a measure of the separation of positive and negative charge in a molecule. It is a vector pointing from the partial positive end toward the partial negative end of a polar bond or molecule.
How do you determine the direction of a molecular dipole?
Identify all polar bonds and draw individual bond dipoles pointing toward the more electronegative atom. The net molecular dipole is the vector sum of all bond dipoles. Symmetry can cause individual dipoles to cancel.
When does a molecule have zero net dipole?
A molecule has zero net dipole when its bond dipoles cancel due to symmetry. Examples: CO2 (linear, dipoles oppose), CCl4 (tetrahedral, dipoles cancel), and BF3 (trigonal planar, dipoles cancel).
What determines bond polarity?
Bond polarity depends on the electronegativity difference between the two atoms. The greater the difference, the more polar the bond. The partial negative charge sits on the more electronegative atom.