dipólusmomentumot

A dipólusmomentumot, or dipole moment, is a measure of the separation of electric charge within a system. It quantifies the extent to which a molecule or object is polar. In simpler terms, it describes how unevenly the positive and negative charges are distributed. For a single pair of charges, the dipole moment is the product of the magnitude of one of the charges and the distance separating them. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. The direction is conventionally taken from the negative charge to the positive charge.

In molecules, a permanent dipole moment arises when there is an unequal sharing of electrons between atoms due to differences in electronegativity, and the molecule has an asymmetrical shape. Even in molecules without a permanent dipole moment, an external electric field can induce a temporary dipole moment. This induced dipole moment is proportional to the applied electric field. The dipole moment is a fundamental property that influences a substance's physical properties, such as its solubility, boiling point, and dielectric constant. It is crucial in understanding intermolecular forces and chemical reactivity.