question_answer

Which of the following compounds would exhibit highest dipole moment?

A)  Ethers

B)  Alcohols

C)  Carbonyl compounds

D)  Carboxylic acids

Correct Answer: C

Solution :

The order of dipole moments Methanol has higher dipole moment than dimethyl ether because oxygen of \[O-H\] bond can withdraw electrons from H atom more easily as compare to oxygen of \[O-C\] bond, thus becomes more polar. Acetic acid and acetone has higher dipole moment than methanol, because both has a \[s{{p}^{2}}-\]hybridized oxygen atom  which is more electronegative and electron withdrawing as electronegative and electron withdrawing as compare to \[s{{p}^{3}}-\]hybridized oxygen atom\[(C-O)\]. Whereas the small dipole moment of acetic acid as compare to acetone is due to the dispersion of negative charge between two oxygen atoms.