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  • Why is the C-O-H bond angle in alcohols slightly less than the tetrahedral angle, whereas the C-O-C bond angle in ether is slightly greater?

Why is the C-O-H bond angle in alcohols slightly less than the tetrahedral angle, whereas the C-O-C bond angle in ether is slightly greater?

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Bond angle of C-O-H being slightly less in alcohol compared to the tetrahedral bond angle. This phenomenon occurs because- 

The C-O-H bond angle in alcohols is slightly less than the tetrahedral angle because of the repulsion between the two lone pairs of electrons on oxygen atoms as these pairs pushes the C-O bonds closer to each other.

In case of ethers, the oxygen atom is attached to bulky alkyl groups, hence repulsion between these R groups pushes the two C-O bonds away from each other and hence the bond angle is slightly greater than the tetrahedral angle.

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