For each of the following, give an example of a member compound containing 5 carbons total:
(d) Ether

Question

For each of the following, give an example of a member compound containing 5 carbons total:

(d) Ether

Accepted Answer

All right. Hi, everyone. So this question is asking us which of the following six carbon molecules is an example of an ether. And here we have four different answer choices to compare. Now, first and foremost, we recall that an ether has a general formula of ror in which one oxygen has two single bonds each to carpet, right? Because recall that R is an abbreviation or any O or arrow group. So in analyzing all four of the given molecules, we're looking for one oxygen that is in between two carbon atoms starting off with entry choice eight. Because notice how in the structure of answer choice A we have one oxygen in the center and two carbons on either side of it. And then each carbon is connected to two methyl groups, right? So because our oxygen in the center has two single bonds to different carbons. Option A would in fact match match the description of an ether. But regardless I want to go ahead and actually compare and contrast, the remaining answer choices starting off with option B because option B does have an oxygen, right? But it notice how it's at the very end of the chain and then oxygen actually has a hydrogen attached to it. So in this case, our oxygen here is connected to one carbon and one hydrogen. This means the general formula is roh which if you recall is characteristic of an alcohol, not an ether. Now, on the other hand, for compound or intero C notice how we have these two oxygens grouped together in the formula we are given. Now recall it, this doesn't actually mean that those two oxygens are bound to each other, rather they're connected to the same carbon that is immediately to their left. So this one carbon has a double bond to one oxygen and a single bond to the other. And then there are the remaining R groups. So here actually let me move this the. So in this case, right, we have a car bono specifically the carbon oxygen double bond as well as a carbon oxygen single bond. Now, it is worth noting that one oxygen here is connected to two carbons. However, this wouldn't be an ether or an ether, excuse me, because this compound also has a car bal adjacent to the oxygen that we were just describing. So therefore, this is not an ether, right? This is an ether. Very similar names though. And option D Well, option D can definitely be confusing because notice how there is seemingly an oxygen in the center of the formula that we are given. However, what I want to point out here is that the carbon immediately to the left of this oxygen has no hydrogens attached to it directly. This is because that carbon has to be part of a double bond with the oxygen immediately to its right. And then that carbon is connected to, to others, right. So compound D here for entero D, it is not actually an ether as well. Instead it is a ketone. So all this is to say is that answer A or option A is the correct answer because option A is the only molecule that contains an ether functional group, meaning that there is one oxygen in between two carbon atoms with a single bond in between them. So with that being said, thank you so very much for watching. And I hope you found this helpful.

For each of the following, give an example of a member compound containing 5 carbons total:
(d) Ether

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Ether

Alkyl Groups

Structural Isomers

For each of the following, give an example of a member compound containing 5 carbons total:(d) Ether

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Ether

Alkyl Groups

Structural Isomers

For each of the following, give an example of a member compound containing 5 carbons total:
(d) Ether