What are the approximate bond angles (a) about carbon in an alkane, (b) about a doubly bonded carbon atom in an alkene, (c) about a triply bonded carbon atom in an alkyne?

Short Answer

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The approximate bond angles about carbon in a) an alkane are \(109.5^{\circ}\) due to its sp3 hybridization, b) an alkene are \(120^{\circ}\) due to its sp2 hybridization, and c) an alkyne are \(180^{\circ}\) due to its sp hybridization.

Step by step solution

01

Determine the Molecular Geometry of the Carbon Atom

For each type of hydrocarbon, examine the hybridization and bonding around the carbon atom. In an alkane, the carbon atom forms single bonds with four other atoms, which makes it sp3 hybridized. In an alkene, the carbon atom forms a double bond with another carbon atom and two single bonds with other atoms, which makes it sp2 hybridized. Lastly, in an alkyne, the carbon atom forms a triple bond with another carbon and a single bond with another atom, making it sp hybridized.
02

Determine Bond Angles for Alkanes, Alkenes, and Alkynes

Using the VSEPR theory, we can now determine the bond angles for each type of hydrocarbon: (a) Alkane: The sp3 hybridized carbon forms a tetrahedral geometry around the carbon atom, which gives us an approximate bond angle of \(109.5^{\circ}\). (b) Alkene: The sp2 hybridized carbon forms a trigonal planar geometry around the carbon atom, which gives us an approximate bond angle of \(120^{\circ}\). (c) Alkyne: The sp hybridized carbon forms a linear geometry around the carbon atom, which gives us an approximate bond angle of \(180^{\circ}\). So, the approximate bond angles for the three types of hydrocarbons are: (a) Alkane: \(109.5^{\circ}\) (b) Alkene: \(120^{\circ}\) (c) Alkyne: \(180^{\circ}\)

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