Ethers are molecules similar in structure to water and alcohols. The angle between the C-O-C bonds is greater than in water due to steric repulsions between bulky groups.
![ethers-structure eteres-estructura](/images/stories/organica-i/eteres/estructura/eteres-estructura-01.png)
In the case of epoxides, the most relevant characteristic is the ring tension due to bond angles very distant from 109º, the C-O-C bond presents an angle of 61º.
Ethers are very polar molecules. Thus, Diethyl ether presents a dipole moment of 1.2 D. This dipole moment is even more important in cyclic ethers (oxacyclopropane, tetrahydrofuran) that present dipole moments above 1.8 D, similar to water.
![ethers-structure eteres-estructura](/images/stories/organica-i/eteres/estructura/eteres-estructura-03.png)