debye

1. (physics) The CGS unit of electric dipole moment, defined as 1 D = 10⁻¹⁸ statcoulomb-centimetre and computable from the SI unit coulomb-metre by multiplying by the factor 3.33564 × 10⁻³⁰.Examples: "The dipole moments of water and the alcohols are about 1.8 debyes. The moments of ethers are smaller, about 1.2 debyes."; "There is considerable transfer of negative charge to the carbon atoms in the pyrrole ring, which give it a high dipole moment ≈ 1.8 Debyes."; "The corresponding results obtained here for #92;mu of benzaldehyde range 1.298 Debyes — 1.471 Debyes, where the lower reported experimental value corresponds to the gas phase one of 1.263 Debyes, which is in good correspondence with the #92;mu calculated at MP4 level (1.298 Debyes)."Synonyms: Debye unit