Dipole axis意思

"Dipole axis" is a term primarily used in the context of molecular physics and chemistry, especially when discussing the properties of polar molecules. A dipole refers to a separation of positive and negative charges, and a dipole axis is the line that connects these separated charges.

In a polar molecule, the centers of the positive and negative charges do not coincide, resulting in a net molecular dipole moment. The dipole axis is the line passing through the molecule from the positive pole to the negative pole. This axis is an important concept because it determines the direction in which the molecule will align in an external electric field, and it also affects the way polar molecules interact with each other and with non-polar molecules.

For example, in water (H2O), the oxygen atom attracts the electrons more strongly than the hydrogen atoms do, leading to a slight negative charge on the oxygen and slight positive charges on the hydrogens. The dipole axis in a water molecule is the line from the hydrogen atom with the partial positive charge to the oxygen atom with the partial negative charge.