Question

Hybridisation of '$O$' atom in ether is:

• A. $s{p}^3$
• B. $s{p}^2$
• C. $sp$
• D. $ds{p}^2$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Central oxygen atom in ether $R-O-R$. molecule, is $s{p}^3$ hybridised. The two half filled $s{p}^3$ hybrid orbitals form two $\sigma$-bonds and the remaining two $s{p}^3$ hybrid orbitals contain lone pair of electrons.
The molecule is bent due to lone pair lone pair repulsion and bond angle is $110^{\circ }$.