Ethers
Chapter Name : Alcohols, Phenols And Ethers |
Sub Topic Code : 102_12_11_06_01 |
Topic Name : Ethers |
|
Sub Topic Name : Preparation By Dehydration Of Alcohols |
|
Introduction
Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups — of general formula R–O–R'.
Pre-Requisites:
Ethers
Activity:
Polyethers.
Real Life Question:
What are alcohols?
Key Words / FlashCards
| Key Words | Definitions (pref. in our own words) |
|---|---|
| Organic compound | An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. |
Learning aids / Gadgets
| Gadgets | How it can be used |
|---|---|
| Diethyl ether | Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula (C2H5)2O. |
Real life uses :
Used as a starting fluid, in combination with petroleum distillates for gasoline and diesel engines because of its high volatility and low flash point.
Places to visit :
Chemistry laboratory.
Practical examples around us
| Examples | Explainations |
|---|---|
| Paraformaldehyde | Paraformaldehyde (PFA) is the smallest polyoxymethylene, the polymerization product of formaldehyde with a typical degree of polymerization of 8–10 units. Paraformaldehyde commonly has a slight odor of formaldehyde due to decomposition. Paraformaldehyde is a poly-acetal. |
What you learn in Theory:
Ethers feature C-O-C linkage defined by a bond angle of about 110° and C-O distances of about 140 pm. The barrier to rotation about the C-O bonds is low. The bonding of oxygen in ethers, alcohols, and water is similar. In the language of valence bond theory, the hybridization at oxygen is sp3.
What you learn in Practice:
Ether molecules cannot form hydrogen bonds with each other, resulting in relatively low boiling points compared to those of the analogous alcohols.