Polar aprotic solvents

Definition

Polar aprotic solvents are solvents that have a net dipole moment but do not possess hydrogen atoms capable of forming hydrogen bonds. They are used in organic reactions to dissolve electrolytes and facilitate reactions without participating in them.

Related terms

SN2 Reaction: A bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction where the bond formation and bond breaking occur simultaneously in a single step, leading to the inversion of configuration at the chiral center.

Dipole Moment: A measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a molecule, indicating how polar the molecule is.

Hydrogen Bonding: A strong type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to a highly electronegative atom such as oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine, significantly influencing solvent properties