Properties of Ethers

Introduction

Ether is an organic compound that does not have any colour. They are characterised by a smell that feels very sweet and has various other traits. The formation of this compound happens by eliminating the moisture content present inside it.

Chemical composition

Ether is a very significant organic compound in the field of organic chemistry. This is a group that consists of different types of ether that have variable boiling and melting points. In general, ether group has a boiling point of 34.6° C. The point where it starts to melt is at a very low temperature which is -116.3°C.

The reason for such a low melting point is the absence of hydrogen atoms which are supposed to bond with the oxygen atoms. This is the reason behind the fact of ether has such a low point where it melts. The molecular mass of this compounds are 74. 12 grams per molecule and the overall density of this element is 713 g/c.c.

Structure of ether

Figure 1 − Structural Formula of Ether

Ether has a proper structure. It is found in sp3 hybridized form of oxygen and other elements. The overall structure of the compound shows how this class of organic compounds makes a bond. The bond is made with two alkyl groups and the hybridized oxygen with sp3 form.

All all the elements have a proper hybridization that plays a role to giving the shape of this structure. The entire structure of this element tries to develop a tetrahedral shape. The bond angle of 109.28° to a certain side is formed in tetrahedral geometry.

Types of ether

The types of ether are classified into two sections, where one is known for symmetrical and other one is asymmetrical. The most common example under the symmetrical compound is known as diethyl ether. There is a secondary constituent that aids in the formation of an asymmetrical compound like ethyl methyl ether.

The use of diethyl ether is known for being a very common product found in manufacturing units of plastic. Therefore, this compound is formed when an ethyl group tries to make a bond with oxygen atoms. The result of this bond forms ethoxide which gets together with ethyl to form the compound diethyl.

Physical properties

The physical properties of this organic compound are as follows −

• Dipole moment − ether that presumes a bond of C-O-C whose angle is not 180°. This is the reason why a dipole moment occurs between the C-O bonds that never try to repel one another.

• Boiling point − This is the point that can be put under the comparison of molecules belonging to alkanes.

• Solubility − The water becomes a good solvent of ether which replicates the total amount of alcohol that is lower in terms of molecular mass.

• Polarity − The total amount of alkyl groups that are present on either side of the oxygen atom makes it heavy. Thus they have a low amount of polarity compared to other organic compounds.

Chemical properties

The chemical properties of ether are as follows −

• The cleavage of C-O bonds is very responsive to hydrogen halides which can cleave it. The general trait of ether is not to react to any element but the addition gives to the formation of alkyl halides.

• The alkoxy groups help in the form of making rings of aroma. They can form in para and ortho positions after electrophilic substitution.

• When a particular catalyst goes missing there is a process of halogenation that is started with ethers. These ethers are able to produce a ring of aromatic componds.

Uses of ether

Figure 2 − Uses of ether

The uses of ether are as follows −

• The medical use of this organic compound helps during the time of surgery. They work as an anaesthetic that is injected into a human body before surgery.

• They are used for making an effective solvent that is able to break down different types of elements. Hence, these are used to break fats, oil, and various types of plastic compounds.

• The compound serves as a substitute of petrol when mixed with a certain amount of alcohol. This is able to produce a good amount of energy for small tools and electric appliances.

Conclusion

The tutorial explains the physical and chemical properties of ether. Here, the formation of ether based on its types is shown to every learner. The uses of ether resemble how significant they are in the duty of catering to human needs. The chemical composition of this organic compound serves as synopsis to give a proper overview of the structure.

FAQs

1. What happens when a person comes in contact with ether in their system?

A person who is exposed to a high concentration of ether can pass away if no treatment is given on time. Respiratory and dermal issues are sure to occur along with drowsiness and vomiting.

2. What are the early uses of ether?

The early use of ether was to treat Vitamin C deficiency in the human body. The disease is scurvy and the other one is the inflammation of pulmonary glands was cured.

3. What is the acid needed to make ether in the laboratory?

Ether is produced by removing water molecules from ethyl alcohol. The product that is very necessary for this process apart from ethyl alcohol is sulfuric acid.