Dipole Moments

How to tell if a molecule has a dipole moment

Dipole Moments
A molecule has a dipole, when there is a charge
separation. The strength of the dipole depends
upon the difference in the electronegativity of the
atoms in the molecule.
A dipole is a charge separation in the molecule.
A molecule has a dipole, when there is a charge
separation. The strength of the dipole depends
upon the difference in the electronegativity of the
atoms in the molecule.
A dipole is a charge separation in the molecule.
A partial negative charge is sometimes given the
symbol

and a partial positive charge

+
.
Another way this is shown is with an arrow with a
cross on one end. The arrow indicate the direction
in which the electron concentrate.
Dipole Moments
H-------Cl

The strength of the dipole depends upon the

difference in the electronegativity of the atoms in
the molecule.
For example: HCl has a dipole, since the electro-
negativity of H is 2.2 that of Cl is 3.16.
Dipole Moments
H-------Cl

Dipole Moments
The strength of the dipole depends upon the
difference in the electronegativity of the atoms in
the molecule.
For example: HCl has a dipole, since the electro-
negativity of H is 2.2 that of Cl is 3.16. Since Cl is
the more electronegative, electrons concentrate near
the Cl atom.
Dipole Moments
Another example, CO
2
:
O is more electronegative, therefore there is a dipole
between the C atom and both O atoms.
O--------C--------O
Dipole Moments
Another example, CO
2
:
O is more electronegative, therefore there is a dipole
between the C atom and both O atoms.
Therefore, the C-O bonds have dipoles.
O--------C--------O
Dipole Moments
Another example, CO
2
:
The C-O bonds have dipoles, but does the overall
molecule have a dipole? (Is it polar?)
O--------C--------O
Dipole Moments
Another example, CO
2
:
Is CO
2
polar?
CO
2
is a linear molecule ( :O=C=O: with sp hybrid).
O--------C--------O
Dipole Moments
Another example, CO
2
:
Is CO
2
polar? No, since the dipoles are in opposite
directions, the net effect is that they cancel. Thus,
the molecule does not have a dipole.
O--------C--------O
Dipole Moments
A third example, COS:
The Lewis dot structure is the same, :S=C=O:, so
the hybrid is sp and the molecule is linear.
S--------C--------O
Dipole Moments
A third example, COS:
The molecule is linear, however, the C-O bond is
much more dipolar than the C-S bond.
S--------C--------O
Dipole Moments
A third example, COS:
The molecule is linear, however, the C-O bond is
much more dipolar than the C-S bond.
The net effect is a polar molecule
S--------C--------O
ddition of the dipoles
ields a net dipole. i.e. =
Dipole Moments
A 4th example, H
2
O:
The molecule is bent 109E with 2 lone pair due to the
sp
3
hybrid formation.
H
H
O
Dipole Moments
A 4th example, H
2
O:
The molecule is bent 109E with 2 lone pair.
O is more electronegative than H and therefore the
bond has a dipole.
But is there a net dipole?
H
H
O
Dipole Moments
A 4th example, H
2
O:
The molecule is bent 109E with 2 lone pair.
Is there a net dipole? Yes, the dipoles do not cancel
completely due to the bent shape. There is a net
dipole toward the O end of the molecule.
H
H
O
=
Dipole Moments
A 4th example, CH
4
:
The hybridization about C is sp
3
and the overall
molecular geometry is tetrahedral.
H
H
C
H
H
Dipole Moments
A 4th example, CH
4
:
The hybridization about C is sp
3
and the overall
molecular geometry is tetrahedral. The C is slightly
more electronegative than H, therefore the bonds
are polar.
H
H
C
H
H
Dipole Moments
A 4th example, CH
4
:
The molecular geometry is tetrahedral.
Even though the bonds are polar, the overall effect is
that there is no net dipole. This is difficult to see in a
2D picture, but more obvious with a 3D model.
H
H
C
H
H
Dipole Moments
A 4th example, CH
4
:
The molecular geometry is tetrahedral.
As a general rule, if the 3D model is out of balance,
then the molecule is polar.
H
H
C
H
H
Dipole Moments
Examples 5 and 6: If 1 or 2 of the terminal atoms in
the tetrahedron are different from the others, the
molecule is polar.
Examples would be CH
2
Cl
2
and CH
3
Cl.
Cl
H
C
Cl
H
H
H
C
Cl
H
Dipole Moments
Examples 7 and 8 sp
2
hybridization - two contrasting
examples:
Are SO
2
and SO
3
polar?
Dipole Moments
Examples 7 and 8 sp
2
hybridization - two contrasting
examples:
Are SO
2
and SO
3
polar?
These are both resonence structures with sp
2
hybridization:
OSO

: :

OSO

: :
OSO

: :

OSO
: :
:O:
O
OSO

: :
:O:

Dipole Moments
Examples 7 and 8 sp
2
hybridization - two contrasting
examples:
Are SO
2
and SO
3
polar? Both have sp
2
hybridization:
SO
2
is bent 120E and SO
3
is trigonal.
OSO

: :
OSO

: :
Bent 120E
OSO

: :
OSO
: :
:O:
O
OSO

: :
:O:

Trigonal
Dipole Moments
Examples 7 and 8 sp
2
hybridization - two contrasting
examples:
Are SO
2
and SO
3
polar? Both have sp
2
hybridization:
SO
2
is bent 120E and SO
3
is trigonal. The stick-
figure representations would be:
O
S
O
S
O
O
O
Dipole Moments
Examples 7 and 8 sp
2
hybridization - two contrasting
examples:
Are SO
2
and SO
3
polar? Both have sp
2
hybridization:
... and the dipole on the bonds would be:
O
S
O
S
O
O
O
Dipole Moments
O
S
O
S
O
O
O
=
Examples 7 and 8 sp
2
hybridization - two contrasting
examples:
Are SO
2
and SO
3
polar? Both have sp
2
hybridization:
For SO
2
there is a net dipole since the dipoles do not
completely cancel.
Dipole Moments
O
S
O
S
O
O
O
= nothing
=
Examples 7 and 8 sp
2
hybridization - two contrasting
examples:
Are SO
2
and SO
3
polar? Both have sp
2
hybridization:
For SO
3
on the other hand the dipoles do completely
cancel (are balanced) so there is no net dipole.
:
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d hybrid:
Two examples of sp
3
d hybrid - PF
5
and PF
4

ion.
The stick figures are as shown:
P
F
F
F
F
PF
4

P
F
F
F
F
F
PF
5
:
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d hybrid:
Two examples of sp
3
d hybrid - PF
5
and PF
4

ion.
Notice that in both cases the F above and below
balance yielding no net dipole in the vertical direction.
P
F
F
F
F
PF
4

P
F
F
F
F
F
PF
5
:
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d hybrid:
Two examples of sp
3
d hybrid - PF
5
and PF
4

ion.
The Fs about the waist cancel for PF
5
but not for PF
4

P
F
F
F
F
PF
4

P
F
F
F
F
F
PF
5
:
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d hybrid:
Two examples of sp
3
d hybrid - PF
5
and PF
4

ion.
Therefore, PF
5
does not have a dipole but PF
4

does.
P
F
F
F
F
PF
4

P
F
F
F
F
F
PF
5
=
= 0
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d hybrid:
Another example of sp
3
d hybrid - PF
3
Cl
2
There are 3 possible arrangements for PF
3
Cl
2
. The
stick figures for these are shown below.
P
F
F
F
P
F
F
F
P
F
F
Cl
F
Cl
Cl
Cl
Cl
Cl
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d hybrid:
Another example of sp
3
d hybrid - PF
3
Cl
2
Notice that only the first one is balanced and
therefore has no dipole. The others are polar.
P
F
F
F
P
F
F
F
P
F
F
Cl
F
Cl
Cl
Cl
Cl
Cl
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d
2
hybrid:
Contrast SF
6
with ClF
5
. Both of these have an sp
3
d
2
hybrid about the central atom.
SF
6
has an atom on each branch and is therefore
octahedral.
S
F
F
F
F
F
F
Dipole Moments
Higher geometries - sp
3
d
2
hybrid:
Contrast SF
6
with ClF
5
. Both of these have an sp
3
d
2
hybrid about the central atom.
ClF
5
, however, has a lone pair of electrons and is a
trigonal pyramid.
Cl
F
F
F
F
F
S
F
F
F
F
F
F
Dipole Moments
High geometries - sp
3
d
2
hybrid:
Contrast SF
6
with ClF
5
. Both of these have an sp
3
d
2
hybrid about the central atom.
SF
6
is completely in balance, therefore it has no
dipole.
Cl
F
F
F
F
F
S
F
F
F
F
F
F
= 0
Dipole Moments
High geometries - sp
3
d
2
hybrid:
Contrast SF
6
with ClF
5
. Both of these have an sp
3
d
2
hybrid about the central atom.
ClF
5
, however, is out of balance, and therefore does
have a dipole.
Cl
F
F
F
F
F
S
F
F
F
F
F
F
=
= 0
Dipole Moments
Some generalization about dipole for molecules
with 1 central atom for some cases
Dipole Moments
Some generalization about dipole for molecules
with 1 central atom for some cases
M If all the terminal atoms are identical -there is no dipole
Dipole Moments
Some generalization about dipole for molecules
with 1 central atom for some cases
M If all the terminal atoms are identical -there is no dipole
M If only one terminal position in the hybrid differs from the
others - there is a dipole
Dipole Moments
Some generalization about dipole for molecules
with 1 central atom for some cases
M If all the terminal atoms are identical -there is no dipole
M If only one terminal position in the hybrid differs from the
others -there is a dipole
M for the sp
3
hybrid, all terminal atoms must be identical
for no dipole, otherwise there is a dipole
Dipole Moments
Some generalization about dipole for molecules
with 1 central atom for some cases
M If all the terminal atoms are identical -there is no dipole
M If only one terminal position in the hybrid differs from the
others -there is a dipole
M for the sp
3
hybrid, all terminal atoms must be identical for
no dipole, otherwise there is a dipole
The above do not cover all cases. All other cases
must be determined by considering the specific
geometry.
The End of the slideshow
Dipole Moments