Question

What is the electronic and molecular geometry of dimethyl ether?

Answer 1

Based on the number of electrons involved in the bond formation and lone pairs, the electronic and molecular geometry will be considered. The electronic geometry is written by considering a total number of electrons. molecular geometry will be different from electronic geometry when there exists a lone pair of electrons in molecules.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Chemical compounds are classified into functional groups based on the groups present in it. Ether is one of the functional groups that have the general formula of $R - O - {R'}$ , where $R$ and ${R'}$ are the same alkyl groups and sometimes different groups.
Given molecule is dimethyl ether with the molecular formula of $C{H_3}OC{H_3}$ .
When we consider carbon as a central metal atom, treat the $- OC{H_3}$ group as $H$ atom, already there are three hydrogen atoms. Thus, the total hydrogen atoms will be four. Then the molecule will be methane. Methane has a geometry of tetrahedral.
When we consider oxygen as a central metal atom, treat the two methyl groups as a hydrogen atom, then the molecule will be like water. The electronic geometry is tetrahedral and due to the presence of lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom, the molecular geometry is bent.
Thus, with respect to oxygen, the electronic geometry is tetrahedral and molecular geometry is bent. With respect to carbon, both the electronic geometry and molecular geometry are tetrahedral.

Note:
As the given molecule is dimethyl ether which contains two carbon atoms, one oxygen atom, and six hydrogen atoms. Based on both carbon and oxygen atoms, the electronic and molecular geometry has to be written.