dipole. An object whose centers of positive and negative charge do not coincide. For example, a hydrogen chloride (HCl) molecule is an electric dipole because bonding electrons are on average closer to the chlorine atom than the hydrogen, producing a partial positive charge on the H end and a partial negative charge on the Cl end.

Produced in a molecule when the centers of positive and negative charge do not coincide.

An object that has an imbalance between positive charge on one side and negative charge on the other; an object that will experience a torque in an electric field.