Polarization
What is Polarization?
In chemistry, polarization refers to the distortion of the electron cloud of an ion or molecule by a neighboring ion or electric field. According to Fajans' rules, cations with high charge density (small, highly charged) can strongly polarize adjacent anions, giving ionic bonds partial covalent character. In optics, polarization describes the restriction of electromagnetic wave oscillations to a single plane, which is exploited in polarimetry to study optically active compounds.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
In chemistry, polarization refers to the distortion of the electron cloud of an ion or molecule by a neighboring ion or electric field. According to Fajans' rules, cations with high charge density (small, highly charged) can strongly polarize adjacent anions, giving ionic bonds partial covalent character. In optics, polarization describes the restriction of electromagnetic wave oscillations to a single plane, which is exploited in polarimetry to study optically active compounds.