Electric Dipole Force between Ammonia and a Proton

In summary, the conversation was about finding the electric force of an ammonia molecule on a proton, given the molecule's electric dipole moment and the distance between it and the proton. The student correctly used the equation for electric dipole in the plane perpendicular to the dipole and found the force to be -4.60E-13 N, indicating that the force is attractive.
  • #1
Badger
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Homework Statement


An ammonia molecule (NH_3) has a permanent electric dipole moment 5.0 * 10^-30 Cm . A proton is 2.50 nm from the molecule in the plane that bisects the dipole.

What is the electric force of the molecule on the proton?

Homework Equations


E_dipole = K 2p / r^3 (on axis of electric dipole)
E_dipole = -K p / r^3 (in the plane perpendicular to an electric dipole)
E_dipole = (F on q) / q

The Attempt at a Solution


p = 5.0E-30 Cm
r = 2.50E-19 m
Use second equation because the question implies its perpendicular to the electric dipole of ammonia?
q of proton = q_p = 1.60E-19 C

F_(molecule on proton) = F = E_dipole * | q of proton |
F = [-K * (p / r^3)] * |q_p|
F = [(-9.00E9) * (5.0E-30) / (2.5E-9)^3)] * 1.60E-19
F = -4.60E-13 N

Help would be awesome!
 
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  • #2
The solution looks correct to me. The student should state the physical meaning of the negative sign of the answer.
 
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What is an electric dipole force?

An electric dipole force is a type of intermolecular force that occurs between two molecules with opposite partial charges. It is a force of attraction between a positive and negative end of two molecules.

How does the electric dipole force form between ammonia and a proton?

In ammonia, the nitrogen atom has a partial negative charge and the three hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge. When a proton approaches ammonia, it will be attracted to the negative nitrogen atom and repelled by the positive hydrogen atoms, resulting in an electric dipole force between the two molecules.

What factors affect the strength of the electric dipole force between ammonia and a proton?

The strength of the electric dipole force between ammonia and a proton is affected by the distance between the two molecules, the magnitude of the partial charges on each molecule, and the orientation of the molecules relative to each other.

Can the electric dipole force between ammonia and a proton be broken?

Yes, the electric dipole force between ammonia and a proton can be broken if enough energy is applied to overcome the attractive forces between the two molecules. This can be achieved through physical separation or by adding enough thermal energy to break the intermolecular bonds.

What are the practical applications of understanding the electric dipole force between ammonia and a proton?

Understanding the electric dipole force can help in fields such as chemistry and material science, as it plays a crucial role in determining the physical and chemical properties of substances. It can also be applied in industries such as agriculture, where ammonia is used as a fertilizer and the electric dipole force between ammonia and water helps the nutrients to be transported to the plant roots.

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