Ether

<p>In <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>, ethers are a class of <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">compounds</a> that contain an ether <a href="/facts/Functional_group/GXkSPsjM">group</a>—a single <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a> atom bonded to two separate carbon atoms, each part of an <a href="/facts/Organyl/gqCNaN45">organyl</a> group (e.g., <a href="/facts/Alkyl/vmEk8X4v">alkyl</a> or <a href="/facts/Aryl/M3z7QRXd">aryl</a>). They have the general formula R−O−R′, where R and R′ represent the organyl groups. Ethers can again be classified into two varieties: if the organyl groups are the same on both sides of the oxygen atom, then it is a simple or symmetrical ether, whereas if they are different, the ethers are called mixed or unsymmetrical ethers. A typical example of the first group is the <a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">solvent</a> and <a href="/facts/Anaesthetic/0xG7I2ou">anaesthetic</a> <a href="/facts/Diethyl_ether/Ep20vEdj">diethyl ether</a>, commonly referred to simply as "ether" (CH3−CH2−O−CH2−CH3). Ethers are common in organic chemistry and even more prevalent in <a href="/facts/Biochemistry/fa2pWEBp">biochemistry</a>, as they are common linkages in <a href="/facts/Carbohydrate/Geuuzxsf">carbohydrates</a> and <a href="/facts/Lignin/CdaxpB3b">lignin</a>.
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Ether open-in-new

Ether