AbstractsChemistry

The behavior of asymmetric molecules subjected to external electrical and mechanical forces is of considerable interest. If the molecule is electrically asymmetric, it will tend to be oriented in an external electric field. The extent of this orientation can be determined experimentally by measuring the dielectric constant of the material. Substances having high dielectric constants are known to possess large permanent electric moments on the molecular scale. The molecules of such substances can therefore be considered as electrical dipoles, in which the centres of positive and negative charge are separated by finite distances. In the presence of an external electric field, these dipoles will tend to orient themselves in the direction of the field, although this tendency will be opposed by their random thermal motion.[...]