Which compound among the following has the highest dipole moment?

Which compound among the following has the highest dipole moment?
  1. NH3
  2. SO2
  3. N2O
  4. CO2

Solution

The dipole moment depends on the charge and distance between the central atom and side atoms. But the charge is more prominent than distance. It is determined as polar and non-polar molecules

It is used for covalent or ionic molecule

μnet = 0 It is for non-polar molecule

μnet 0 It is for polar molecule

It can be determined by the geometry of the molecule. As, ammonia has trigonal pyramidal shape in which the dipole moment of lone pair balances the moment of bond pair.

In case of SO2, it have bent shape or V-shape has have net dipole moment towards oxygen atom side.

N2O or CO2 both have the linear shape and so their moment is balanced and so net dipole moment is zero.

Hence, we can conclude that SO2 molecule has a maximum dipole moment.

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2021 (19 Aug Shift 2)

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