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Polarizability is the relative tendency of the electron cloud of an atom to be distorted from its normal shape by the presence of a nearby ion or dipole--that is, by an external electric field.
The electronic polarizability <math>\alpha<math> is defined as the ratio of the induced dipole moment <math>\boldsymbol{p}<math> of an atom to the electric field <math>\boldsymbol{E}<math> that produces this dipole moment.
<math>\boldsymbol{p} = \alpha \boldsymbol{E}<math>
See also polarization
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