http://icho2014.hus.edu.vn/Preparatory-Problems/0001/01/Preparatory-Problems-224.html I am having a problem with the first problem, the last question. I obtain a value of 101.75° for C-O-H angle in methanol, when it should be clearly between 105°(water) and 110°(diethylether), it actually is 108°.
Here's my work:
Applying a consequence of cosinus theorem:
μ
water=sqrt2*μ
O-H*sqrt(1+cos105°). Hence, μ
O-H=1.5158 D .
Analogously: μ
diethylether=sqrt2*μ
O-C*sqrt(1+cos110°). Whence,
μ
O-C=1.12788 D .
Now, for methanol: α=(μ
2methanol-μ
2O-C-μ
2O-H)/2μ
C-Oμ
O-H.
Is there any mistake? Maybe they neglected C-H interactions, even if they are more or less included in experimental C-O dipole moment from diethylether.