What does a dipole vector point towards?

A dipole vector represents the direction of the separation of positive and negative charge within a molecule. It points from the positive end to the negative end. In the context of electronegativity, a dipole vector will point towards the more electronegative atom because this atom has a stronger ability to attract shared electrons in a bond.

When two atoms in a bond have different electronegativities, the more electronegative atom will hold the shared electron density closer to itself, causing a partial negative charge on that atom and a partial positive charge on the less electronegative atom. This creates a dipole moment, which is indicated by the dipole vector pointing towards the more electronegative atom, effectively illustrating the shift in electron density and the development of charge separation.

This understanding is crucial in explaining molecular behavior, polarity, and intermolecular interactions. In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect the behavior of the dipole vector in relation to electronegativity.