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Medical College Admission Test
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

Comparison of Bond Angles in Methane and Ethane

Medium Organic Chemistry Structure And Bonding

In organic chemistry, understanding the structure and bonding of molecules is essential for predicting their reactivity and properties. Consider the molecules methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6). Methane features a central carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms through single covalent bonds, creating a tetrahedral geometry. In contrast, ethane has two carbon atoms, each bonded to three hydrogen atoms and to each other, which also results in a staggered conformer due to rotation around the C-C bond.

Given these structural details, which statement accurately reflects the differences between the bond angles observed in methane and ethane?

Hint

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