Question

Ethylene oxide, is an important industrial chemical. Although most ethers are unreactive, ethylene oxide is quite reactive. It resembles${\mathbf{\text{C}}}_{\mathbf{\text{2}}}{\mathbf{\text{H}}}_{\mathbf{\text{4}}}$in its reactions in that many additional reactions occur across the COO bond.

a. Why is ethylene oxide so reactive? (Hint: Consider the bond angles in ethylene oxide as compared with those predicted by the VSEPR model.)

b. Ethylene oxide undergoes additional polymerization, forming a polymer used in many applications requiring a non-ionic surfactant. Draw the structure of this polymer.

Short answer

1. It is very reactive because intermolecular angles are 60 degrees instead of 109.5 degrees (according to VSEPR theory).
2. The structure is shown below

Step-by-step solution

To find why ethylene oxide is so reactive

According to VSEPR theory, angles should be 109.5⁰. But, since ethylene oxide has molecular shape, the angles are around 60⁰_.The difference in angles causes great tensions and it is the main reason why this substance is very reactive.

 Structure of the polymer.

They will form the polymer such as this in the picture below.

Hence It is very reactive because intermolecular angles are 60 degrees instead of 109.5 degree (according to VSEPR theory).