Question

Which one of the following has the highest dipole moment?

(i) CH₂Cl₂

(ii) CHCl₃

(iii) CCl₄

Answer 1

(i)

Dichlormethane (CH₂Cl₂)

μ = 1.60D

(ii)

Chloroform (CHCl₃)

μ = 1.08D

(iii)

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)

μ = 0D

CCl₄ is a symmetrical molecule. Therefore, the dipole moments of all four C−Cl bonds cancel each other. Hence, its resultant dipole moment is zero.

As shown in the above figure, in CHCl₃, the resultant of dipole moments of two C−Cl bonds is opposed by the resultant of dipole moments of one C−H bond and one C−Cl bond. Since the resultant of one C−H bond and one C−Cl bond dipole moments is smaller than two C−Cl bonds, the opposition is to a small extent. As a result, CHCl₃ has a small dipole moment of 1.08 D.

On the other hand, in case of CH₂Cl₂, the resultant of the dipole moments of two C−Cl bonds is strengthened by the resultant of the dipole moments of two C−H bonds. As a result, CH₂Cl₂ has a higher dipole moment of 1.60 D than CHCl₃ i.e., CH₂Cl₂ has the highest dipole moment.

Hence, the given compounds can be arranged in the increasing order of their dipole moments as:

CCl₄ < CHCl₃ < CH₂Cl₂