Tag: ethers

In case of ether there is no intermolecular forces which results in low boiling points or high vapour pressures. Hence lower ethers are highly volatile and flammable.

The correct option is $A$. Ether is less soluble than alcohol in water because alcohol forms hydrogen bond with water molecule but ether does not.

Diethyl ether $ \displaystyle CH _3-CH _2-O-CH _2-CH _3$ and Methyl propyl ether $ \displaystyle CH _3-O-CH _2-CH _2-CH _3$ are metamers of each other. They have same molecular formula but different alkyl groups attached on either side of the oxygen atom.

Ether has least boiling point as it cannot form hydrogen bonds. Ethylene glycol, water and phenol can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds which lead to intermolecular hydrogen bonding and high boiling points. Hydrogen bonding is possible when $H$ atom is attached to electronegative $N,\ O$ or $F$ atom.

The density of ether increases gradually with increase in the molecular mass. But their density is less than 1. And we know that the density of water is 1. Hence all ethers are lighter than water.

The densities of ethers increase with increase in the molecular masses of ethers.

Ethers show metamerism. When the two compounds have same ratios of atoms but different arrangements, then they are said to show metamerism. e.g. Methyl propyl ether and diethyl ether have same ratios of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms but different structural arrangements. Hence they are metamers of each other.

Ethers have general structural formula R-O-R'. Hence all of them have the C-O bond. We know that the C-O bond is polar due to the difference between the electronegativities of carbon and oxygen. Hence, ethers show dipolar nature.

The correct option is B. $R-O-R$ is generally the functional group of the ether which is non-polar and does not form hydrogen bonding.