What is the molecular formula for ethyl methyl ether?

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Multiple Choice

What is the molecular formula for ethyl methyl ether?

Ethyl methyl ether is made from a methyl group and an ethyl group connected by an oxygen, i.e., CH3-O-CH2-CH3. Count the atoms in those groups: carbons total 3 (1 from methyl + 2 from ethyl), hydrogens total 8 (3 on the methyl, 2 on the CH2, 3 on the terminal CH3), and one oxygen. So the molecular formula is C3H8O. The other formulas don’t fit because they change the total carbon count (four carbons would be diethyl ether; two carbons would be alcohols like ethanol or methanol) or would imply unsaturation or a ring that isn’t present in this saturated ether.

Ethyl methyl ether is made from a methyl group and an ethyl group connected by an oxygen, i.e., CH3-O-CH2-CH3. Count the atoms in those groups: carbons total 3 (1 from methyl + 2 from ethyl), hydrogens total 8 (3 on the methyl, 2 on the CH2, 3 on the terminal CH3), and one oxygen. So the molecular formula is C3H8O. The other formulas don’t fit because they change the total carbon count (four carbons would be diethyl ether; two carbons would be alcohols like ethanol or methanol) or would imply unsaturation or a ring that isn’t present in this saturated ether.

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