Overview of the Difference between Ester and Ether
Ester and Ether are two different functional classes of organic compounds. These are the derivatives formed by the process known as esterification/etherification. The key difference between the two lies in their molecular structure.
Concept of Ester
An ester is a chemical compound derived from an acid. It has a pleasant smell; those of low molecular weight are commonly used as fragrances and are found in essential oils and pheromones Phosphoesters form the backbone of DNA molecules.
Concept of Ether
Ethers have the general formula R–O–R′, where R and R′ represent the alkyl or aryl groups. A typical example of the first group is the solvent and anesthetic diethyl ether, commonly referred to simply as "ether" (CH3–CH2–O–CH2–CH3).
Overview of Difference between Ester and Ether:
The Major Difference between Ester and Ether is that Ester needed two carbon and oxygen atoms to complete its structure, derived from carboxylic acids, and have a carbonyl group while; Ester and Ether both are functional groups and are used to categorize organic chemical compounds. Ether is an organic molecule having two carbon atoms bonded with a single oxygen atom for example dimethyl ether while Ester is a Hence, they are different from each other due to their structure.
What is Ether?
Ether is a flammable organic compound where oxygen connects the alkyl and aryl groups on either side. They have a general chemical formula R–O–R′. Ether compounds are used in industries, dyes, perfume, oil, and wax.
Structure of Ether
In the ether, 1 atom of O forms bonds with two C atoms to complete its structure.
Ethyl Acetate or Ethyl Ethanoate
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Methyl Butanoate
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Propyl Methanoate
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Propyl Ethanoate
Ethyl Propanoate
What is Etherification?
Etherification or alkylation is a process used for the synthesis of ether by dehydration of alcohol.
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What is Ester?
Ester is a chemical compound formed by the combination of an organic or inorganic acid. It must have a hydroxyl (–OH) which is swapped by an alkyl (–O–) group. Esters have a pleasant, sweet aroma, hence they are used in synthetic flavoring, perfume, nail polish removers, ink, pharmaceutical industry, and biodiesel.
Structure of Ester
In the structure of an ester, 2 atoms of O form bonds with 2 C atoms.
For Example
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Creatine Ethyl Ester
The general chemical formula for Carboxyl Ester is RCOOR′, where R and R′ are the hydrocarbons. R’ is an alkyl group whereas R may be another alkyl group or hydrogen or an aryl group.
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Carboxylic Acid Esters
What is Esterification?
The process of ester formation by the reaction of a carboxylic acid with alcohol is called esterification.
The following key differences between Ester and Ether groups must be considered.
Ester vs Ether: Key Differences On Various Parameters
Solved Examples
Example 1
Give chemical reactions for butyl acetate.
Butyl acetate is an ester formed by the esterification reaction of acetic acid and 1-butanol. The reaction takes place in the presence of a mineral catalyst (H+). One molecule of water is liberated in this combination.
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This is a reversible reaction.
Example 2
What is T-Butyl Methyl Ether?
Tert-butyl methyl ether or Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a component of gasoline. It is used as oxygenating to raise the octane number and supplant tetraethyl lead. However, it is produced worldwide due to surging demand in Asian markets. The use of MTBE is controversial in the US.
MTBE is also used in medical procedures of the gallbladder to dissolve gallstones.
MTBE is artificially synthesized via the chemical reaction of methanol and isobutylene.
Did you Know?
In olden times, ether was used as an anesthetic in surgery. During the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) the doctors began its use as an anesthetic on the battlefield. Its use is abolished with the development of safer and more effective options available today.
Diethyl ether is the commonest and the first ether used for sedation during medical procedures. Today, diethyl ether is not easy to buy in most western countries to restrict its massive use by the general public. The drug is used for recreation by people for intoxication.
Still one can find the use of ether in things around. Fluorocarbons produced by ether are used as refrigerants in consumer durables and aerosol propellants. Some medicines are related to cough and cold medicines, ointments, toothpaste, and mouthwashes.
Fun Facts
Esters transmit nerve stimuli in animals.
The German chemist Leopold Gmelin coined the term ‘Ester’ in the 19th century. The fragrant compounds were called esters then.
Ether was discovered in 1275 and its sedative effect was discovered during the Mexican-American War. Later, in 1849 it was officially issued an anesthetic by the US Army.
FAQs on Difference between Ester and Ether
1. What is Ethers Name?
Ethers don’t have a distinguishing IUPAC nomenclature suffix. So the substituent name is derived from their alkyl component. For example, Alkyl Group Methyl (CH3–) containing ether is named Methoxy. Similarly, Phenyl (C6H5–) alkyl containing ether is called Phenoxy. Alternatively, the nomenclature of ether is like naming each of the two carbon groups individually.
Like, CH3-CH2-O-CH3 is named ethyl methyl ester. CH3CH2OCH2CH3 is named diethyl ether. The shorter part is the alkyl group whereas the larger part is the alkyl group. The Alkyl group is the substituent of alkoxy. The longer side becomes the name of the alkane base. The carbon of each alkyl group on either side is numbered starting from the carbon closest to the oxygen. The shorter side name is appended with the "-oxy" ending.
For example, CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2CH3 is named 1-propoxypentane.
2. What compounds are called ester?
An ester is a chemical compound that is a derivation from the chemical reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. At least one of the –OH (hydroxyl) groups is replaced by an –o-alkyl (alkoxy) group. Glycerides, the fatty acid esters of glycerol, are eminent biological esters. It belongs to the group of lipids, and most of the animal fats and vegetable oils contained the same. Esters of low particle amounts are mostly found to make the perfumes of essential oils and pheromones.
DNA particles are made up of Phosphoesters. Explosive properties come up through Nitrate esters. Some esters have a nice fragrance also, while some are highly soluble. They came under the group of synthetic lubricants in the arena of trade.
3. What is the general formula of Ester and Ether?
Esters have the general formula RCOOR′, where R may be a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R′ may be an alkyl group or an aryl group but not a hydrogen atom. On the contrary, Ether has the general formula R–O–R′, where R and R′ represent the alkyl or aryl groups.
4. What is the functional group of ether and ester?
Esters have the functional group –COO. Whereas; Ethers have the functional group –O. On the other hand, Ethers can have a symmetrical structure if both alkyl groups on either side of the oxygen atom in an ether group are similar.
5. What are the examples of Simple Ester and Simple Ether?
Methyl formate, also called methyl methanoate, is the methyl ester of formic acid. Whereas; if two identical groups are attached to either side of an oxygen atom, then it is referred to as symmetrical ethers. These are also known as Simple Ethers. Examples are diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, dimethyl ether, and more.
6. Do Ester and Ether smell?
Esters generally smell really nice, even though the two components that combine to form esters can smell like foot odor or vomit. They also smell partly because they exhibit weak intermolecular forces. This allows ester molecules to enter the gas phase and reach your nose. On the other side; Ether has a sweet, distinctive odor.
7. How are Ester and Ether prepared?
Esters occur naturally, often as fats and oils but they can be made in the laboratory by reacting an alcohol with an organic acid. Whereas; Ethers usually are prepared by the Williamson ether synthesis. The system silver oxide/alkyl halide is also efficient.
8. What is Ethers Name?
Ethers don’t have a distinguishing IUPAC nomenclature suffix. So the substituent name is derived from their alkyl component. For example, Alkyl Group Methyl (CH3–) containing ether is named Methoxy. Similarly, Phenyl (C6H5–) alkyl containing ether is called Phenoxy.
Alternatively, the nomenclature of ether is like naming each of the two carbon groups individually. Like, CH3-CH2-O-CH3 is named ethyl methyl ester. CH3CH2OCH2CH3 is named diethyl ether.
The shorter part is the alkyl group whereas the larger part is the alkyl group. The Alkyl group is the substituent or alkoxy. The longer side becomes the name of the alkane base. The carbon of each alkyl group on either side is numbered starting from the carbon closest to the oxygen. The shorter side name is appended with the "-oxy" ending. For example,
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2CH3 is named 1-propoxypentane.
9. What compounds are called ester?
An ester is a chemical compound that is a derivation from the chemical reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. At least one of the –OH (hydroxyl) group is replaced by an –o-alkyl (alkoxy) group. Glycerides, the fatty acid esters of glycerol, are eminent biological esters. It belongs to the group of lipids, and most of the animal fats and vegetable oils contained the same. Esters of low particle amounts are mostly found to make the perfumes of essential oils and pheromones. DNA particles are made up of Phosphoesters. Explosive properties come up through Nitrate esters. Some esters have a nice fragrance also, while some are highly soluble. They came under the group of synthetic lubricants in the arena of trade.
