Functional Groups — Unit test

Question 8 • R282: GR CA-Chemistry B (Grade Repair)

Which of the following best states the difference between an alcohol and an ether?

Answer

In an alcohol, a carbon atom is double bonded to an oxygen atom; in an ether, a carbon atom is triple bonded to another carbon atom.

In an ether, a carbon atom is double bonded to an oxygen atom; in an alcohol, a carbon atom is triple bonded to another carbon atom.

In an alcohol, a carbon atom is single bonded to a hydroxide group (OH–); in an ether, an oxygen atom is single bonded to two carbon atoms.

In an ether, a carbon atom is single bonded to a hydroxide group (OH–); in an alcohol, an oxygen atom is single bonded to two carbon atoms.

Explanation

An alcohol has an –OH group attached to a carbon, while an ether has an oxygen atom single-bonded to two carbon atoms (R–O–R). So choice C gives the right structural distinction. Strictly, the –OH in an alcohol is a hydroxyl group, not a negatively charged hydroxide ion.

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