Abstract
ONE well-known application of the concept of ionic-covalent resonance is in the field of dipole moments, where it has been used, in a simple way, to correlate the observed dipole moments of bonds with differences in electronegativity1. However, recent work, notably that of Mulliken2, Coulson3, and Robinson4, has cast doubt upon the validity of some of the assumptions made in this treatment5. One of these assumptions is that the dipole moment of a pure covalent bond is approximately zero.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pauling, L., “The Nature of the Chemical Bond”, chap. 2. (Cornell University Press, 1940).
Mulliken, R. S., J. Chem. Phys., 3, 573 (1935).
Coulson, C. A., Trans. Farad. Soc., 38, 433 (1942).
Robinson, D. Z., J. Chem. Phys., 17, 1022 (1949).
The present position has been critically reviewed in papers by Coulson and by Warhurst, presented at the Royal Society Symposium on Bond Energies and Bond Lengths, held on March 9, 1950.
Rollefson, R., and Rollefson, A. N., Phys. Rev., 48, 779 (1935).
Pauling, L., and Sherman, J., Z. Krist., 81, 1 (1932).
Smyth, C. P., and Hannay, N. B., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 68, 171 (1946).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WARHURST, E., WHITTLE, E. Dipole Moment and Ionic Character. Nature 167, 767 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1038/167767a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/167767a0
