Ethyl Group

What is an ethyl group?

The ethyl group is derived from ethane, the parent alkane. The molecular formula for ethane is C₂H₆. It is made up of two carbon atoms joined together by a single bond (C-C), and each carbon atom has three single bonds to hydrogen atoms (C-H). The ethyl group is a two-carbon atom unit that is linked to a longer carbon atom chain or possibly a benzene ring.

Table of Contents

• Properties
• Formation of ethyl group
• Ethylation
• Nomenclature of ethyl group
• Difference between methyl and ethyl groups
• Frequently Asked Question – FAQs

Properties

• Ethyl is an ethane-derived alkane substituent. It has the molecular formula -CH₂CH₃ or -C₂H₅.
• The abbreviation –Et is also used to indicate an ethyl group.
• It can bond to any other atom or group.
  When a halogen, such as chlorine, is bonded to an ethyl group, the result is ethyl chloride. Alternatively, alcohol can bind to ethyl to form an ethyl alcohol molecule.
• The ethyl group has a molar mass of 29 g mol^-1.
• It is bonded with three hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom, the CH₃ carbon of the ethyl group has tetrahedral geometry. When the other carbon is bonded to another atom or molecule, it will also acquire a tetrahedral geometry.
• The angle of the H-C-H bond is 109°.
• Ethyl’s carbon atoms are sp³ hybridised. To form the carbon-carbon sigma bond, an sp³ hybridised orbital from each carbon atom overlaps. The bond between carbon and hydrogen is also a sigma bond, but it is formed by overlapping a carbon sp³ hybridised orbital with a hydrogen s orbital.
• Bond rotation is possible due to the single sigma bond between carbon atoms, and it does not require a lot of energy.
• The ethyl group will also form a sigma bond with the other binding group.

Formation of Ethyl Group

Depending on the nature of the carbon atoms from which hydrogen is to be removed, an alkane molecule can lead to more than one alkyl group.

As both carbon atoms in ethane (C₂H₆) are primary, only one alkyl group can be formed.

Ethylation

The introduction of the ethyl group into a compound results in ethylation. The most common application of this reaction is the ethylation of benzene with ethylene to produce ethylbenzene, a precursor to styrene, which is a precursor to polystyrene.

Electrophilic ethylation, or the treatment of nucleophiles with Et⁺ sources, produces a large number of ethyl-containing compounds. Such a reagent is triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate [Et₃O]BF₄. Less electrophilic reagents, such as ethyl halides, are used to create good nucleophiles.

Nomenclature of Ethyl Group

General Formula is -C₂H₅

Their names are derived by substituting the suffix -yl for the terminal “ane” of the corresponding ethane.

Ethyl= Ethane – ane + yl

Difference between Methyl and Ethyl Group

1. Methyl is made up of one carbon and three hydrogens, whereas ethyl is made up of two carbons and five hydrogens. As a result, the molar mass of the ethyl group is greater than that of the methyl group.
2. Ethyl comes from the alkane ethane, while methyl comes from the alkane methane.