Chapter 9, Problem 52IL

Ethylene oxide is an intermediate in the manufacture or ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and polyester polymers. More than 4 million tons are produced annually in the United States. The molecule has a three-member ring of two C atoms and an O atom.

(a) What are the bond angles in the ring? Comment on the relation between the bond angles expected based on hybridization an d the bond angles expected for a three-member ring.

(b) Is the molecule polar? Based on the electrostatic poten1ial map shown below. where do the neg-alive and positive charges lie in the molecule?

Polarity: It is a well separation of electric charge leading to a molecule or chemical compounds having an electrical dipole moment. Generally the polar molecules must contain polar bonds due to a different in electronegative between the bonded atoms.

The electrostatic potential map clearly to explain, the oxygen atom has more negative (δ^–) charge and other side has less positive (δ^–) charge, so this molecule is a more polar nature.