Dipole Moments in Carbon Compounds

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to dipole moments in carbon compounds as discussed in the lecture.

Dipole Moment

A measure of the separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule, indicating the direction and magnitude of electron flow towards more electronegative elements.

C2Cl2

A carbon compound with two chlorine atoms, contributing to a specific dipole moment.

CHCl3

A carbon compound with three chlorine atoms, resulting in a dipole moment that is less than CH2Cl2.

CCl4

A carbon compound with four chlorine atoms, resulting in a dipole moment of zero due to equal electronegative pull in all directions.

Electronegativity

The tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself, with chlorine being more electronegative than carbon.

Highest Dipole Moment

In the context of the compounds discussed, CH2Cl2 has the highest dipole moment due to having the least number of electronegative chlorine atoms.

Electron Flow

The movement of electrons towards the more electronegative element in a bond, affecting the dipole moment of the compound.

Polar Molecules

Molecules that have a significant dipole moment due to uneven distribution of electronegativity.