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Because of the difference in electronegativities between atoms in a molecule, the electrons in a molecule can be drawn more strongly to one part of the molecule over another. If one region of a molecule is asymmetric and accompanies this difference in electronegativity, a dipole moment results.

Examples:

1) water - H-O-H - oxygen more electronegative than hydrogen...oxygen side is more negative than hydrogen side

2) ammonia - NH3 - pyramidal structure of ammonia leaves hydrogen with one unshared pair of electrons...which makes the unpaired side more negative than the side with three hydrogen atoms

However, even with dipole moments within a molecule, symmetries can prevent a net dipole moment from forming.

An example is carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

In this molecule, dipole moments exist between chlorine atoms (more electronegative) and the central carbon atom (less electronegative). However, because of the tetrahedral symmetry of the molecule, no net dipole moment is formed.

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