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What is a dipole? Also, how do you know if a molecule is symmetrical or asymmetrical?

For example, are the following symmetrical or asymmetrical? Can you tell just from the molecular formula? Which ones have dipoles?

  • $\ce{O2}$
  • $\ce{H2O}$
  • $\ce{CO2}$

Are these concepts related?

pentavalentcarbon
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Nitrate
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    Take a look at something like http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Quantum_Mechanics/Atomic_Theory/Intermolecular_Forces/Dipole-Dipole_Interactions, please and then edit your question to address the concepts that you still don't understand. – jonsca Oct 07 '14 at 04:33
  • I'm nominating to reopen so it can be closed again as a duplicate of https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/q/1107/194. – pentavalentcarbon Jan 29 '18 at 04:48

1 Answers1

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You should easily find the answers by searching the web.

A dipole is the separation of a positive charge and a negative charge in a molecule. Any 2 different atoms bonded together will have a dipole since their electronegativities are different.

A symmetrical molecule will either have a mirror plane or a rotation that will superimpose the atoms. Benzene has both a mirror plane and a rotation of 60°.

An asymmetrical molecule does not have a mirror plane or rotation. Ethanol is an example.

LDC3
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