The Oxygen of an Ether Croup Is Bonded to Two Carbon Atoms

THE OXYGEN OF AN ETHER CROUP IS BONDED TO TWO CARBON ATOMS 

Ethers are not very soluble in water because, without the hydroxyl group, they are unable to form strong hydrogen bonds with water (Section 7.1). Furthermore, without the polar hydroxyl group, the molecular attractions among ether molecules are relatively weak. As a result, it does not take much energy to separate ether molecules from one another. This is why ethers have relatively low boiling points and evaporate so readily. 

Dimethyl ether Insoluble in water, boiling point-25 C 

The oxygen in an alcohol, such as ethanol, is bonded to one carbon atom and one hydrogen atom. I he oxygen in an ether, such as dimethyl ether, is bonded to two carbon atoms. Because of this difference, alcohols and ethers of. similar molecular ma.ss have vastly different physical properties. 

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