Polarizations of atomic and molecular charge distributions

Abstract

It is shown that the dominant polarization of a molecular charge distribution in the region of a nucleus of an atom which employs p orbitals in its bonding (Be → F, Mg → Cl) is quadrupolar in nature, and dipolar for an atom which employs s orbitals (H, He, Li, Na). That these polarizations are of a fundamental nature is demonstrated by showing that they represent the primary response of a charge distribution to an electric field, whether it be internal or external, static or dynamic.