partial charge
"Partial charge" refers to the non-integer electric charge that occurs due to the unequal distribution of electrons in molecules or atoms, commonly discussed in chemistry and physics.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Chemistry
(technical, academic)A non-integer electric charge on an atom in a molecule, resulting from the unequal sharing of electrons due to differences in electronegativity.
Example
- In a water molecule, the oxygen atom has a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges.
C1Physics
(technical, academic)A fraction of an elementary charge, used to describe the distribution of electric charge within a molecule or atom.
Example
- Quarks possess partial charges that are fractions of the elementary charge.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "partial charge":
electric chargecharged particlecharge upcover chargetrickle chargechip and charge