Resultant
Definition and meaning of Resultant in chemistry.
A resultant is a single vector that represents the combined net effect of two or more independent vectors acting simultaneously on a system.
In more detail
In physical chemistry, resultants are commonly used to analyze acting forces, molecular dipole moments, or particle velocities in complex systems. For example, if a polyatomic molecule contains multiple distinct polar covalent bonds, the overall net dipole moment of the entire molecule is the vector sum, or resultant, of the individual bond dipoles. Calculating the true resultant requires taking into proper account both the scalar magnitude and the specific spatial direction of all the component vectors using vector addition. If the component vectors happen to cancel each other out perfectly due to high molecular symmetry, the resultant vector is exactly zero, leading to a nonpolar molecule.
Key facts
| Field | Physical Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Nature | Vector quantity |
| Calculation | Vector addition of components |
| Application | Dipole moments, forces, velocities |
In a water molecule, the individual dipole moments of the two polar O-H bonds add together to create a non-zero resultant dipole moment, making water an overall polar molecule.
Frequently asked questions
Can the resultant be zero?
Yes, if the individual vectors are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, their sum will be a zero resultant.
How is the resultant dipole moment related to molecular polarity?
A molecule is polar if it has a non-zero resultant dipole moment, and nonpolar if the resultant is exactly zero.