Question

What are dipoles in chemistry?

Answer 1

Many molecules have such dipole moments due to non-uniform distributions of positive and negative charges on the various atoms.

Explanation:

Such is the case with polar compounds like hydrogen fluoride (HF), where electron density is shared unequally between atoms.

For molecules there are three types of dipoles:

1. Permanent dipoles : These occur when two atoms in a molecule have substantially different electronegativity: One atom attracts electrons more than another, becoming more negative, while the other atom becomes more positive. A molecule with a permanent dipole moment is called a polar molecule.

2. Instantaneous dipoles : These occur due to chance when electrons happen to be more concentrated in one place than another in a molecule, creating a temporary dipole.

3. Induced dipoles : These can occur when one molecule with a dipole repels another molecule's electrons, inducing a dipole moment in that molecule. A molecule is polarized when it carries an induced dipole.