--%>

What are Ethers and its types?

Ethers are the compounds with general formula or CnH2n+2O (same as monohydric alcohols). These are symbolized through a general structure. R-O-R'. They may be regarded as dialkyl derivatives of water or mono alkyl derivatives of alcohols.
                          
1476_ethers.png 

They are also considered as anhydrides of alcohols because they can be obtained by the elimination of water molecule from two alcohol molecules.
                        
1507_ethers1.png 

The groups R and R' in ether may either be same or different. In case these groups are same, the compounds are known as simple ethers or symmetrical ethers. On the other hand, if R and R' groups are different, the compounds are called mixed ether or unsymmetrical ethers.
                     
C2H5-O-C2H5      Simple ether
                     
C2H5-O-CH3         Mixed ether


Ethers may also be classified into two categories as aliphatic ethers and aromatic ethers. In aliphatic ethers, the groups R and R' are both alkyl groups whereas in aromatic ethers, one or both R and R' groups are aryl groups. Ether with one alkyl and one aryl groups are also called aryl alkyl ethers or phenolic ethers whereas ethers with both aryl groups are called diaryl ethers. Few examples are taken below:

775_ethers2.png

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Kinds of insulators Describe all the

    Describe all the kinds of insulators which are present?

  • Q : Calculating total number of moles

    Choose the right answer from following. While 90 gm of water is mixed with 300 gm of acetic acid. The total number of moles will be: (a)5 (b)10 (c)15 (d)20

  • Q : Explain preparation and properties of

    It may be prepared by the action of phosphorus on thionyl chloride.P4 + 8SOCl2    4

  • Q : What are homogenous catalyst? Give few

    When a catalyst mixes homogeneously with the reactants and forms a single phase, the catalyst is said to be homogeneous and this type of catalysis is called homogeneous catalysis. Some more examples of homogeneous catalysis are:    SO2

  • Q : Explain physical properties of

    . Boiling pointsThe boiling points of monohalogen derivatives of benzene, which are all liquids, follow the orderIodo > Bromo > ChloroThe boiling points of isomeric dihalobe

  • Q : Show your calculations Superphosphate

    Superphosphate has the formulae: CaH4 (PO4)2H2).  Calculate the percentage of phosphorus in this chemical.  Show your calculations  (around ten lines);  also Work out how to make up a nutrient mixtur

  • Q : Determining maximum Osmotic pressure

    Which of the following would have the maximum osmotic pressure (assume that all salts are 90% dissociated): (a) Decimolar aluminium sulphate (b) Decimolar barium chloride (c) Decimolar sodium sulphate (d) A solution obtained by mix

  • Q : What is laser and explain its working?

    Laser action relies on a non-Boltzmann population inversion formed by the absorption of radiation and vibrational deactivation that forms a long lived excited electronic state. An excited state molecule can move to a lower energy state or return to the

  • Q : Describe chemical properties of amines.

    Like ammonia, primary, secondary and tertiary amines have a single pair of electrons on N atom. Hence chemical behavior of amines is similar to ammonia. Amines are basic in nature, and in most of the reactions they act as nucleophiles.      1. Reaction wi

  • Q : Utilization of glacial acetic acid What

    What is the utilization of glacial acetic acid? Briefly describe the uses.