Course reader pg 94

[Catherine_Zhang_1H]

For the common names, could someone re-explain the naming of CH3-O-CH2CH3? (Ethyl methyl ether)

[Andrew Nguyen 3G]

The ethane and methane molecules are substituents of the ether functional group. The reason why the ethane isn't the main "chain" is because the substituent O would have it's own substituent CH3. From what I know I don't think substituents can have their own substituents.

Since an ether only has 1 position in which substituents can attach, this molecule is 1-ethyl 1-methyl ether. The 1's are omitted by convention.

[Chem_Mod]

Common names for ethers take the 2 sides of the ether and name them individually. For the example you gave, there is a 1 carbon chain on the left and a 2 carbon chain on the right which corresponds to a methyl and ethyl group respectively. Common names of ethers put these two names in front of the word "ether" to give you the final name ethyl methyl ether.