Question

Why Ethers are volatile?

Answer 1

Volatile compounds: Volatile compounds are those compounds that can be easily converted to vapours by absorbing heat.

Ethers:

• Ethers are the class of organic compounds that contain an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups termed as ether.
• The general formula of ether is R-O-R where R represents the alkyl group.

Volatile nature of ether:

• Ethers are the isomeric products of a monohydric alcohol.
• In alcohol due to the presence of an electronegative atom Oxygen connected to a hydrogen atom hydrogen bonding occurs which increases the non-volatile nature of alcohol.
• But in the case of ether, no such bonding is present, and molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces.
• Hence, due to the presence of weak intermolecular forces ethers are volatile in nature.