Ethers

Ethers are classified by whether the two carbon groups attached to the ether oxygen are the same or different.

• Simple (or symmetrical) ethers — the alkyl or aryl groups on either side of the oxygen are identical. Diethyl ether, $\text{C}_2\text{H}_5-\text{O}-\text{C}_2\text{H}_5$, is the standard example: both groups attached to oxygen are ethyl.
• Mixed (or unsymmetrical) ethers — the two groups on the oxygen are different from each other. For example, $\text{C}_2\text{H}_5-\text{O}-\text{CH}_3$ (an ethyl and a methyl group) and $\text{C}_2\text{H}_5-\text{O}-\text{C}_6\text{H}_5$ (an ethyl and a phenyl group) are both unsymmetrical ethers. …