Organic Chemistry Questions and Answers – Physical Properties of Ethers

This set of Organic Chemistry Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Physical Properties of Ethers”.

1. Which of the following is distinguish test for ether?
a) Lucas test
b) FeCl3 test
c) Molisch test
d) Zeisel test
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The Zeisel determination or Zeisel test is a chemical test for the presence of esters or ethers in a chemical substance. In a qualitative test a sample is first reacted with a mixture of acetic acid and hydrogen iodide in a test tube.
Qualitative test sample is first reacted with mixture of acetic acid & hydrogen iodide

2. Which of the following statement is not true about ethers?
a) The lower ethers are highly volatile and flammable
b) Lower ethers also act as anaesthetics
c) Ethers are not organic solvents
d) Simple ethers (such as diethyl ether) are tasteless
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Because like dissolve like, Diethyl ether is very non-polar compared to water so it will dissolve the non-polar substances and precipitate the ionic compounds. Since like dissolves like, your barely-polar organic ether is often happy to dissolve your non-polar organic molecules.

3. Why ether is more volatile than an alcohol having the same molecular formula?
a) dipolar character of ethers
b) alcohols having resonance structures
c) inter-molecular hydrogen bonding in ethers
d) inter-molecular hydrogen bonding in alcohols
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The ether are less volatile than alcohol of same molecular mass because in alcohols there is intermolecular H-bonding which makes it less volatile and High B.P. But in case of ether there is no intermolecular H-Bonding which makes it more volatile and less B.P.
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4. Why the boiling point of ethyl alcohol is much higher than that of dimethyl ether though both have the same molecular weight?
a) Ether is insoluble in water
b) Methyl groups are attached to oxygen in ether
c) Dipole moment of ethyl alcohol is less
d) Ethyl alcohol shows hydrogen bonding
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Alcohols have much higher boiling points than the comparable alkanes or the related ethers because molecules of alcohols can interact through hydrogen bonding while those of alkanes and ethers cannot. Thus, Ethanol has a higher boiling point (78℃) than dimethyl ether (−25℃) though they have the same molecular weight.

5. Which of the following has lower boiling point than dimethyl ether?
a) Pentane
b) Propane
c) Tetrahydrofuran
d) n-butanol
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The difference in molecular weight made difference between boiling point here mainly. It would be best to set up a better comparison and then ask the question. diethyl ether is a chain of 5 atoms in a row. The appropriate alkane to compare it to is pentane, also 5 atoms in a row. Ethane only has two carbons (CH3-CH3).
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6. Which of the following statements about ethers is incorrect?
a) Ethers are flammable
b) Ethers form peroxides by free radical oxidation
c) Ethers are widely used as extraction solvents
d) An ether oxygen can only be found within an acyclic carbon chain
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Although widely used as extraction solvents ethers are highly flammable and readily form peroxides by free radical oxidation. An ether oxygen can be present in an open chain or as part of a cyclic system.

7. Which of the following product is formed, when ether is exposed to air?
a) Oxide
b) Alkanes
c) Alkenes
d) Peroxide of diethyl ether
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: On exposure to air ether form peroxide of diethyl ether, as shown in below reaction.
On exposure to air ether form peroxide of diethyl ether as shown
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8. An organic compound A reacts with sodium metal and forms B. On heating with conc. H2SO4, A gives diethyl ether. What are A and B?
a) C2H5OH and C2H5ONa
b) C3H7OH and CH3ONa
c) CH3OH and CH3ONa
d) C4H9OH and C4H9ONa
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: When C2H5OH reacts with sodium metal and forms C2H5ONa and on heating with H2SO4 giver diethyl ether.
When C2H5OH reacts with sodium metal & forms C2H5ONa give diethyl ether

9. What is the smell of the diethyl ether?
a) Vinegar
b) Sweet smell
c) Rotten egg
d) Fish like smell
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Diethyl ether has a rather sweet, ethereal smell. It might have a hint of an alcohol-like odor, very penetrating.
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10. Which of the following Is the correct reason for cyclic ether are miscible in water?
a) Planer structure
b) Larger size
c) Molecular weight
d) Hydrogen bonding
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and 1,4-dioxane are miscible in water because of the more exposed oxygen atom for hydrogen bonding as compared to linear aliphatic ethers.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Organic Chemistry.

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