What is the use of the dipole moment?
The molecule is composed of partially charged nuclei and negatively charged electron particles distributed in space. The structural arrangement of these particles is different in different molecules. When the center of gravity of the positive charge due to coincides with the center of gravity of the negative charge due to electrons, the chemical bonding becomes non-polar. Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, benzene are the examples of non-polar molecules.
When the center of gravity of the positive charge does not coincide with the center of gravity of the negative charge, polarity arises in the molecules and the molecules are called polar. For example hydrogen chloride, water, ammonia, methyl chloride, benzyl chloride, etc.
Dipole moment definition
The polarity of bonds of the molecules has quantified a term, called dipole moment (µ). The molecule is neutral and hence if (+ q) amount of charge separates at the positive charge center, (- q) will be accumulated at the negative charge center of the molecule. If l is the distance between two centers of the polar molecule, then the dipole moment, µ = q × l. For the non-polar molecules, l=0 and hence µ=0. Higher the value of µ of a molecule, higher will be its polarity. The SI unit of dipole moment = coulomb × meter (c х m).
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