Questions about Ethers (Organic Chemistry)
20 multiple-choice questions about Ethers (Organic Chemistry), each with five alternatives (A–E). The correct answers with extended explanations follow at the end.
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Multiple Choice Questions: Ethers (Organic Chemistry)
1. What is the general formula for a simple ether?
A) R–OH
B) R–NH₂
C) R–O–R'
D) R–COOH
E) R–SH
2. What functional group characterizes ethers?
A) Carbonyl
B) Hydroxyl
C) Alkene
D) Ether linkage (–O–)
E) Amino
3. What is the IUPAC name for CH₃–O–CH₃?
A) Dimethyl ether
B) Methanol
C) Ethanol
D) Methyl oxide
E) Methoxymethane
4. Ethers are commonly named by:
A) Counting carbon atoms and identifying the parent chain
B) Using the longest chain as the base name and attaching alkoxy group names
C) Naming the molecule like a carboxylic acid
D) Naming from the –OH group
E) Using the suffix “-one”
5. Which of the following compounds is an ether?
A) CH₃CH₂OH
B) CH₃CH₂CH₃
C) CH₃CH₂OCH₃
D) CH₃COOH
E) CH₃NH₂
6. What is the name of CH₃CH₂–O–CH₂CH₃?
A) Methyl ethanoate
B) Diethyl ether
C) Ethanol
D) Ethyl methyl ether
E) Butanol
7. What is the hybridization of oxygen in ethers?
A) sp
B) sp²
C) sp³
D) sp³d
E) dsp²
8. What is the physical state of most simple ethers at room temperature?
A) Solid
B) Gas
C) Liquid
D) Plasma
E) Colloid
9. Why do ethers have relatively low boiling points compared to alcohols?
A) Ethers decompose easily
B) Ethers are nonpolar
C) Ethers lack hydrogen bonding between molecules
D) Ethers have weaker bonds
E) Ethers have more steric hindrance
10. Which of the following ethers is commonly used as an anesthetic?
A) Ethyl acetate
B) Diethyl ether
C) Methanol
D) Acetone
E) Benzyl alcohol
11. What is the solubility of ethers in water?
A) Always insoluble
B) Insoluble due to size
C) Soluble due to hydrogen bonding with water
D) Soluble due to ionic interactions
E) More soluble than alcohols
12. Which of the following statements is true about ethers?
A) They are acidic
B) They are basic
C) They are generally unreactive
D) They form strong hydrogen bonds with themselves
E) They easily oxidize
13. What reaction is commonly used to prepare ethers?
A) Esterification
B) Elimination
C) Williamson ether synthesis
D) Friedel-Crafts reaction
E) Aldol condensation
14. The Williamson ether synthesis requires:
A) A ketone and an acid
B) An alkoxide and an alkyl halide
C) An alcohol and a base
D) A carboxylic acid and ammonia
E) An ester and water
15. Which of the following is an asymmetrical ether?
A) Diethyl ether
B) Dimethyl ether
C) Methoxyethane
D) CH₃CH₂CH₂OH
E) CH₃COCH₃
16. Ethers are generally used as:
A) Acids
B) Bases
C) Solvents
D) Oxidants
E) Reducing agents
17. What is the main safety concern with ethers in laboratories?
A) Corrosive fumes
B) Toxic heavy metals
C) Formation of explosive peroxides
D) Radioactive decay
E) Biodegradability
18. Which ether contains an aromatic group?
A) Diethyl ether
B) Methoxypropane
C) Ethyl methyl ether
D) Phenyl ether
E) Propyl ether
19. Which class of reaction can cleave ethers under acidic conditions?
A) Nucleophilic substitution
B) Electrophilic addition
C) Hydrolysis
D) Radical substitution
E) Dehydration
20. Which of the following ethers is the least volatile?
A) Dimethyl ether
B) Diethyl ether
C) Dipropyl ether
D) Methoxyethane
E) Methyl propyl ether
- Questions about Cyclic Hydrocarbons (Organic Chemistry)
- Questions about Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Organic Chemistry)
- Questions about Alcohols (Organic Chemistry)
✅ Answer Key with Extended Explanations
1. C – Ethers have the general formula R–O–R′, where R and R′ are alkyl or aryl groups.
2. D – The ether functional group is characterized by the ether linkage (–O–).
3. A – CH₃–O–CH₃ is commonly known as dimethyl ether.
4. B – IUPAC naming uses the longest carbon chain and names the alkoxy substituent.
5. C – CH₃CH₂OCH₃ is ethyl methyl ether, an ether.
6. B – CH₃CH₂–O–CH₂CH₃ is diethyl ether.
7. C – Oxygen in ethers is sp³ hybridized, forming two sigma bonds and two lone pairs.
8. C – Most simple ethers are liquids at room temperature.
9. C – Ethers do not hydrogen bond with each other like alcohols, lowering their boiling point.
10. B – Diethyl ether was historically used as a general anesthetic.
11. C – Ethers can hydrogen bond with water, making small ethers somewhat soluble.
12. C – Ethers are generally unreactive, especially toward bases and acids (under mild conditions).
13. C – Williamson ether synthesis is the primary method of ether formation.
14. B – It requires an alkoxide ion and an alkyl halide.
15. C – Methoxyethane (CH₃–O–CH₂CH₃) has two different alkyl groups (asymmetrical).
16. C – Ethers are commonly used as solvents due to their chemical stability.
17. C – Ethers can form explosive peroxides upon standing with oxygen.
18. D – Phenyl ether contains a benzene ring (aromatic group).
19. A – Under acidic conditions, ethers can undergo nucleophilic substitution, breaking the C–O bond.
20. C – Dipropyl ether has the highest molecular weight and lowest volatility among the options.
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