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The IR wavenumber for bond stretching in a C-O bond (1000 - 1300 cm⁻¹) is lower than for a C-H bond (2850 - 3300 cm⁻¹) - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 18 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 18
The IR wavenumber for bond stretching in a C-O bond (1000 - 1300 cm⁻¹) is lower than for a C-H bond (2850 - 3300 cm⁻¹). Which one of the following statements best e... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The IR wavenumber for bond stretching in a C-O bond (1000 - 1300 cm⁻¹) is lower than for a C-H bond (2850 - 3300 cm⁻¹) - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 18 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which one of the following statements best explains this fact?
Answer
The bond strength of a C-O bond is lower than that of a C-H bond primarily because of the electronegativity difference. Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, which leads to a stronger C-H bond due to more effective orbital overlap and a stronger bond character. This explains why the IR wavenumber associated with the C-O bond stretching is lower compared to C-H bonds. Thus, the correct answer is A: Oxygen atoms are more electronegative than hydrogen atoms.