Question

Write the common and systematic (IUPAC) names of the ether that has the following structure. H3C-O-CH2CH3 Common name: Systematic name

Answer 1

The given ether is CH3 Common name: Common name for ether is given by including the alkyl substituents present followed by the name ether. In our case, we have a methyl group and an ethyl group on both end of the O. Hence, the common name of the ether is ethyl methyl ether. Systematic name: Systematic name of ethers have the form alkoxy-alkane where the smaller alkyl group takes the place of the alkoxy and larger group takes the alkane name. Here ethyl group is the larger group and methyl is the smaller alkyl group. Hence, the systematic name of the ether is methoxyethane. Common Name: ethyl methyl ether Systematic Name: methoxyethane

Note: there can be more than one common name for an ether as there is no specific rule for the order of alkyl group in common name. Hence, our ether can also have the common name methyl ethyl ether.