What is the formula for calculating the dipole moment?

The dipole moment is a measure of the separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule, which quantifies the polarity of the molecule. The formula for calculating the dipole moment is represented as μ = qr, where μ is the dipole moment, q is the magnitude of the charge, and r is the distance between the positive and negative charges.

In this context, 'q' represents the charge involved in creating the dipole, and 'r' is the distance that separates the charges. The product of these two quantities gives a vector quantity (the dipole moment) that points from the negative charge to the positive charge, indicating both the direction of the dipole and its magnitude.

This formula is critical in understanding molecular polarity, as molecules with significant dipole moments exhibit different physical and chemical properties compared to nonpolar molecules.