Question
Question: Which is more soluble in water \( C{H_3}C{H_2}OC{H_2}C{H_3} \) or \( C{H_3}C{H_2}OC{H_3} \) ?...
Which is more soluble in water CH3CH2OCH2CH3 or CH3CH2OCH3 ?
Solution
Ethers read the compounds that consist of oxygen atoms attached to two same alkyl or different alkyl groups. The oxygen atom in ether involves hydrogen bonding with water. Thus, the solubility of ethers will be explained based on the size of the solute. Smaller is the size greater will be the solubility.
Complete answer:
Chemical compounds are classified based on the group present in it known as functional groups. Ether is one of the functional groups in the form of ROR′ , where sometimes the two alkyl groups are same and sometimes the two alkyl groups are different.
Given two structures are CH3CH2OCH2CH3 and CH3CH2OCH3 . One is diethyl ether and the other is ethyl methyl ether. As the two structures contain the oxygen atom, it is involved in the hydrogen bonding.
Thus, solubility of compounds depends upon the size of the molecule. Smaller is the size of the molecule, greater is the solubility of the compound in water.
In the given two ether molecules, ethyl methyl ether is a small molecule and thus it is more soluble in water. Diethyl ether is a larger molecule compared to ethyl methyl ether.
Thus, CH3CH2OCH3 is more soluble in water than CH3CH2OCH2CH3 .
Note:
The compounds that can form hydrogen bonds with water can be able to dissolve in water. Both the given ether molecules have oxygen atoms and can form hydrogen bonding with water. In this case the size of the molecule will decide the solubility of the compound in water.