Diethyl ether
A symmetrical ether whose oxygen can accept hydrogen bonds.
- Formula
- C4H10O
- Molar mass
- 74.12 g/mol
- Also known as
- ethoxyethane, ether, Ethyl ether, Ethyl oxide, Pronarcol, Diethyl oxide
Overview
A symmetrical ether whose oxygen can accept hydrogen bonds.
It has no O–H bond, so pure ether molecules cannot donate hydrogen bonds to one another. This helps distinguish its boiling behaviour from that of alcohols. The oxygen lone pairs also let ethers act as Lewis bases toward suitable metal centres.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C4H10O
- Molar mass
- 74.12 g/mol
- Also known as
- ethoxyethane, ether, Ethyl ether, Ethyl oxide, Pronarcol, Diethyl oxide
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CCOCC
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C4H10O/c1-3-5-4-2/h3-4H2,1-2H3
- PubChem CID
- 3283
Properties
- Melting Point
- -116.3 °C (stable crystals); -123.3 °C (metastable crystals)
- Boiling Point
- 34.6 °C at 760 mm Hg
- Density
- Density (at 20 °C): 0.7 g/cm³
- Water solubility
- In water, 6.04X10+4 mg/L at 25 °C
Related compounds
- Ethers
Diethyl ether is a specific member of the ethers family.
Connected reactions
- Intermolecular dehydration: Ethanol → Diethyl ether
Protonation turns one ethanol OH group into a better leaving group. The oxygen of another ethanol molecule displaces water, and deprotonation gives diethyl ether; stronger dehydration conditions instead favour ethene.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Diethyl ether (CID 3283)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.
- OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Names and properties of ethersJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023
Supports the qualitative structure and reactivity context; identity and numerical measurements retain their original references.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Diethyl ether — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3283#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 677
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Diethyl ether — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3283#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 677
- ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Diethyl ether — densityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3283#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Diethyl ether — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3283#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Riddick, J.A., W.B. Bunger, Sakano T.K. Techniques of Chemistry 4th ed., Volume II. Organic Solvents. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons., 1985., p. 411