Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

 


 >   name        Deanna
 >   status      student
 >   age         20s

 >   Question -  Why is petroleum ether called an "ether" if it is not
 > really an ether?

Because it's ethereal, that is, it volatilizes very easily.  The organic
compounds containing C-O-C groups are quite volatile compared to their
parent alcohols (methanol vs dimethyl ether, ethanol vs diethyl ether),
which is how they came to be called "ethers."  Over time, the name was
applied to all compounds with that functional group.

Richard E. Barrans, Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois

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