The dipole moment of trans 1,2-dichloroethane is less than the cis – isomer. Explain.
In comparison to the cis – isomer, the trans isomer has a more symmetrical structure. The dipole moments of the polar C-Cl bonds are expected to cancel them out in the trans – isomer, resulting in a molecule with a dipole moment of practically zero. These, however, do not cancel in the cis –isomer. As a result, the cis isomer has a particular moment, whereas the trans isomer has none.
