Ether

In organic chemistry and biochemistry, an ether is functional group that may result from the condensation of alcohols.

                       
   ROH    +   HOR'  -->  ROR' + H2O
 alcohol     alcohol     ether

This direct reaction is not suitable in most synthetic pathways. There exist several milder methods to produce ethers.

Like esters, ethers are limited in their ability to form hydrogen bonds. They tend to be more hydrophobic than other, analogous condensation products (such as esters or amides). They are resistant to hydrolysis.

Ether which have a CH group next to the oxygen form peroxides which are higly explosive. Due to this and the low ignition point of diethylether, diethylester is one of the risc factors in laboratories.

In addition to the generic meaning, the term "ether" also commonly refers to the specific compound diethyl ether, CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₃, also known as ethoxyethane. Diethyl ether[?] was one of the first anesthetics used in surgery.

Despite their comparably attenuated reactivity, ethers can act as Lewis acids (see Acid-base reaction theories). For instance, diethyl ether forms a complex with boron compounds, such as boron trifluoride etherate, F₃B:O(CH₂CH₃)₂

The nomenclature of ethers is as follows. CH3-CH2-O-CH3 is called ethoxymethane. To find the name, separate the compound into the hydrocarbon chains before and after the oxygen. In this case, ethane (C2H5-) and methane (-CH3) are before and after the oxygen, respectively. Change the ethane into its reduced form, eth, and place oxy between the names. Ethoxymethane is the result. CH3-CH2-CH2-O-CH2-CH3 is propoxyethane.

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Ether, in physics and philosophy. See Aether.

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According to the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ether was an ancient prophet who lived among the Jaredites[?] on the American continent. Ether was the principal author of the Book of Ether, which is part of the Book of Mormon.