Question

In both water and diethyl ether, the central atom viz. O-atom has same hybridization. Why do they have different bond angles? Which one has greater bond angle?

Answer 1

Both water and diethyl ether have the central atom O in sp³ hybrid state with two lone pairs of electrons on O.

But due to the greater repulsions between two ethyl (C₂H₅) groups in diethyl ether than between two H-atoms in H₂O result in greater bond angle (110º ) in diethyl ether than 104.5º in that of water (H₂O).