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Naming and Properties of Ethers
Watch Out!
Don't confuse ethers with esters!
Ethers has an oxygen atom single bonded to 2 carbon atoms.
Esters were made of a carboxylic acid group combining with an alcohol and releasing water (results in carbonyl group (C=O) bound to O group.
Properties:
- Have an electronegative O atom, making them more polar than hydrocarbons
- Have stronger intermolecular attractions than hydrocarbons, but weaker intermolecular attractions than alcohols (which can hydrogen bond with each other)
- Has higher boiling points than analogous hydrocarbons, but lower boiling points than analogous alcohols
Naming:
Wize Concept
There are two chains connected to the oxygen atom...
1. Find the longer hydrocarbon group connected to the O atom and number it starting at the end of the chain closest to the O atom.
2. The first part of the name comes from the shorter hydrocarbon chain bound to O. Indicate the number of the carbon atom that is bound to the O atom first and then name it with the prefix (ex. meth, eth, prop, but, etc) and add the word "oxy" to the end of it.
3. Look at the longer hydrocarbon chain again and indicate the position # and branch names of any branches as you normally would on the parent chain connected to the O atom.
4. Name the parent alkane as usual (ex. methane, ethane, propane, etc).
Final naming:
(# of C atom in long chain attached to O atom)-(Short hydrocarbon prefix name)(oxy)(#-branches on main chain)(name of parent alkane)
Example: Name the following molecule
2-ethoxypentane
Example: Name the following molecule
methoxymethane
Name the following molecule
Mark Yourself Question
- Grab a piece of paper and try this problem yourself.
- When you're done, check the "I have answered this question" box below.
- View the solution and report whether you got it right or wrong.
Draw the following molecule:
2-phenoxyheptane