Question

the image shows a power plant and a lewis structure of the chemical ethanolamine used to trap carbon dioxide. nitrogen atom indicated. carbon dioxide emitted from industrial power plants is a greenhouse gas that is responsible for measurable changes in the global climate. engineers and chemists are working together to develop methods to chemically trap carbon dioxide before it is released into the atmosphere. one of the chemicals that has been most extensively investigated as a carbon dioxide trapping agent is ethanolamine. given the list of options, select the correct answer to this question: what is the h - o - c bond angle in triethanolamine indicated in the image, and what is the molecular geometry at the nitrogen atom? o angle = 120°, geometry = trigonal planar o angle = 120°, geometry = trigonal pyramidal o angle = 109°, geometry = trigonal planar o angle = 109°, geometry = trigonal pyramidal

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze nitrogen - atom geometry

The nitrogen atom in ethanolamine has four electron - groups (three bonding pairs and one lone pair). According to VSEPR (Valence - Shell Electron - Pair Repulsion) theory, four electron - groups around a central atom result in a tetrahedral electron - group geometry. But due to the presence of a lone pair, the molecular geometry is trigonal pyramidal. The bond angles in a tetrahedral - electron group geometry are approximately 109.5°, and when a lone pair is present, the bond angles are slightly less than 109.5°, around 109°.

Step2: Recall bond - angle in triethanolamine

In triethanolamine, the C - O - C bond angle is also influenced by the tetrahedral arrangement around the oxygen atom. The C - O - C bond angle is close to 109°.

Answer:

angle = 109°, geometry = trigonal pyramidal