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