What is the Geometry at the Hydroxyl-Bearing Carbon Atom of an Alcohol

Question

What is the geometry at the hydroxyl-bearing carbon atom of an alcohol?
A) linear
B) tetrahedral
C) trigonal planar
D) trigonal pyramidal

Accepted Answer

The hydroxyl-bearing carbon in an alcohol has four electron pairs around it, including three bonding electron pairs (two from the carbon-oxygen bond and one from the carbon-hydrogen bond) and one lone pair on the oxygen. This arrangement gives the carbon atom a tetrahedral geometry.