The spin–lattice relaxation time of the 1,2-dichloroethane molecule has been determined in 6 different nonmagnetic or weakly magnetic solvents at 20 °C, viz: deuterated benzene, carbon disulfide, deuterated 1,2-dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, and deuterated chloroform. From the experimental results the relaxation rate in infinitely dilute solution, the so called intramolecular relaxation rate, was determined for each solvent. It was found that the observed intramolecular relaxation rate could be successfully interpreted as arising solely from a dipole–dipole relaxation mechanism. It was further found that the individual differences in the value of the intramolecular spin–lattice relaxation rate of the 1,2-dichloroethane molecule in different solvents could be accounted for in terms of weak complex formation between the solute and solvent molecules.