Ethers

Question 1

Ethers

Answer 1

Substituted alkanes in which a hydrogen atom is replaced by an alkoxy functional group -OR and have the general structure R’—O—R”

Question 2

Melting/boiling points

Answer 2

Ether molecules have lower boiling points than the corresponding isomeric alcohols. This is because ethers have PD-PDIs while alcohols have hydrogen bonds

Question 3

Solubility

Answer 3

• methoxymethane and methoxyethane are soluble in water
• Larger ethers are insoluble in water. This is because ethers are polar molecules so the smaller ones dissolve in water. Larger ethers have longer non-polar hydrocarbon chains which are insoluble in water
• ethoxyethane and butane-1-ol have similar solubility in water as they’re isometric, hydrophobic carbon chains that are long enough to make the compound insoluble.

Question 4

Why are ethers good solvents?

Answer 4

• they dissolve many polar organic compounds
• they evaporate easily due to their low boiling point
• they are in reaction (don’t take part in condensation/substitution reactions)

Question 5

How to prepare an ether?

Answer 5

Ethers can be produce in a nucleophilic substitution reaction by reaction a monohaloalkane with an alkoxide.