The structure and dielectric properties of polar solvents

The properties of twenty polar solvents are considered with respect to their dielectric permittivities at very low and at optical frequencies. The estimation of the permittivity on the basis of continuum models using the molecular dipole moment and polarizability is discussed. This is compared with the results of a non-primitive model based on the mean spherical approximation. The role of chemical factors in the latter approach is emphasized.