Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur

Naming Ethers

GOB Chemistry

14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur

Naming Ethers

Previous problemNext problem

Problem 50c

Textbook Question

Which compound in each pair would be more soluble in water? Explain.
c. methyl propyl ether or 1-butanol

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the key factors that influence solubility in water: Water is a polar solvent, so compounds that can form hydrogen bonds with water or have polar functional groups are generally more soluble.

Analyze the structure of methyl propyl ether: This compound contains an ether functional group (-O-) but lacks hydroxyl (-OH) groups, which limits its ability to form hydrogen bonds with water. Its solubility in water is primarily due to the oxygen atom's lone pairs, which can weakly interact with water molecules.

Analyze the structure of 1-butanol: This compound contains a hydroxyl (-OH) group, which can form strong hydrogen bonds with water molecules. This significantly enhances its solubility in water compared to compounds without hydroxyl groups.

Compare the two compounds: While both compounds have some ability to interact with water, 1-butanol's hydroxyl group allows it to form stronger and more extensive hydrogen bonding with water than the ether group in methyl propyl ether.

Conclude: Based on the ability to form hydrogen bonds, 1-butanol would be more soluble in water than methyl propyl ether.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above

Play a video:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Polarity

Polarity refers to the distribution of electrical charge over the atoms in a molecule. Polar molecules, which have a significant difference in electronegativity between their atoms, tend to interact well with water, a polar solvent. In contrast, nonpolar molecules do not dissolve well in water due to their lack of charge separation.

Hydrogen Bonding

Hydrogen bonding is a type of strong intermolecular attraction that occurs when hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen or nitrogen. In the context of solubility, compounds that can form hydrogen bonds with water, such as alcohols, are generally more soluble than those that cannot, as these interactions help to stabilize the solute in the solvent.

Functional Groups

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. In the case of the compounds in the question, the presence of the hydroxyl (-OH) group in 1-butanol enhances its solubility in water compared to methyl propyl ether, which lacks this polar functional group.