Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols

Naming Ethers

Organic Chemistry

12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols

Naming Ethers

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3:59 minutes

Problem 22a(5)

Textbook Question

What is each ether's systematic name?
5.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the ether functional group in the structure. An ether is characterized by an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups. In the given structure, the oxygen atom is located in the middle of the chain, connecting two hydrocarbon chains.

Step 2: Determine the longest continuous carbon chain on either side of the oxygen atom. Count the number of carbons in each chain to identify the parent chains. In this case, there are 4 carbons on the left side and 3 carbons on the right side of the oxygen atom.

Step 3: Name each alkyl group attached to the oxygen atom. The alkyl group with 4 carbons is named 'butyl,' and the alkyl group with 3 carbons is named 'propyl.'

Step 4: Combine the names of the alkyl groups in alphabetical order, followed by the word 'ether.' Since 'butyl' comes after 'propyl' alphabetically, the systematic name will start with 'propyl' and then 'butyl.'

Step 5: Write the systematic name as 'propyl butyl ether,' ensuring proper naming conventions are followed for ethers.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ethers

Ethers are a class of organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. They have the general formula R-O-R', where R and R' represent hydrocarbon chains. Ethers are commonly used as solvents and in the synthesis of various organic compounds due to their relatively low reactivity.

Systematic Naming

Systematic naming in organic chemistry follows the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) rules, which provide a standardized method for naming compounds. For ethers, the naming convention typically involves identifying the longest carbon chain attached to the oxygen and naming it as an alkane, followed by the name of the other alkyl group as a substituent, prefixed with 'alkoxy'.

Functional Groups

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. In the case of ethers, the ether functional group (-O-) is crucial for determining the compound's reactivity and properties. Understanding functional groups is essential for predicting how a compound will behave in chemical reactions.

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