identify the functional group and indicate polar bonds by assigning partial positive and negative charges.
1) The structure CH3OCH3 is drawn out and I know that this is an ether because the O is bonded to two carbons but I am not sure how to assign the charges. I think that the oxygen would be negative and the two C's would be positive but I am not sure.
Would you agree with my answer?
This looks much like the HOH molecule/
O-H
|
H. Of course you know both H atoms are partially positive and O is partially negative. Same with ethers.
O-CH3
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CH3
O is partially negative; the two C atoms are partially positive.
To determine the functional group and assign charges, we need to understand the properties and electronegativity of the atoms involved in the molecule.
In the case of CH3OCH3, also known as dimethyl ether, the functional group is indeed an ether. The oxygen atom (O) is bonded to two carbon atoms (C) through single bonds.
To assign partial charges, we consider electronegativity. Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, meaning oxygen has a greater attraction for electrons. As a result, oxygen tends to pull electron density towards itself, creating a partial negative charge (δ-) on oxygen and leaving a partial positive charge (δ+) on the carbon atoms.
Therefore, in CH3OCH3, the oxygen atom has a partial negative charge (δ-) and the two carbon atoms have partial positive charges (δ+).
It's important to note that these charges are not full charges but rather represent a distribution of electron density within the molecule. The charges indicate the partial separation of charges due to the electronegativity difference.
In summary, your answer is correct! The oxygen atom in CH3OCH3 carries a partial negative charge (δ-), while the two carbon atoms have partial positive charges (δ+).