The substitution of a hydrogen atom in a
hydrocarbon by an alkoxy or aryloxy group
(R–O/Ar–O) yields another class of compounds known
as ‘ethers’, for example, CH3OCH3 (dimethyl ether) You
may also visualise ethers as compounds formed by
Rationalised 2023-24
194
Chemistry
substituting the hydrogen atom of hydroxyl group of an alcohol or
phenol by an alkyl or aryl group In this unit, we shall discuss the chemistry of three classes of
compounds, namely — alcohols, phenols and ethers Monohydric alcohols may be further classified according to the
hybridisation of the carbon atom to which the hydroxyl group is
attached