Welcome Guest Search | Active Topics |

Tag as favorite
Is "ether" the same thing as "diethyl ether"?
Options
Previous Topic Next Topic
Emily_6585
#1 Posted : Monday, August 09, 2021 10:03:28 PM
Rank: Newbie

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/28/2021
Posts: 4

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
I understand an ether is a functional group, but "ether" seems to be used colloquially by the classroom companion to refer to a solvent (ie. the MCAT Tip on page 167 says "If you see ether underneath a reaction arrow think Sn2 because [it's] polar aprotic".

I'm confused because I thought diethyl ether was a non-polar solvent.

Does "ether" under a reaction arrow mean "any solvent with an ether functional group" or is it a short-hand way to refer to diethyl ether (and thus I'm wrong in thinking diethyl ether is non-polar).

Thank you!
Back to top
Report?
INSTR_Katrina_128
#2 Posted : Friday, August 13, 2021 5:08:32 PM
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/18/2021
Posts: 73

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
Hi Emily!

Great question. You're right! Ether, like alcohol, is both a functional group and a shorthand name for one of its family members. So, ether can refer to EITHER the functional group of R-O-R or the specific molecule dimethyl ether. You have to figure out based on context. Just like alcohol can refer to either the functional group -OH or the molecule ethanol.

If you see "ether" under a reaction arrow, it is likely referring to dimethyl ether as the solvent.

The R-O bond is weakly polar, and becomes LESS polar as the R-chain gets longer. Ethers are more polar than alkanes, but less polar than alcohols and ketones.

Dimethyl ether has the same "polarity" as benzene, and should be considered non-polar and aprotic.
Back to top
Report?
Users browsing this topic
Guest (4)
Tag as favorite
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Clean Slate theme by Jaben Cargman (Tiny Gecko)
Powered by YAF | YAF © 2003-2009, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.071 seconds.