Topic 42: Nomenclature and Physical Properties of Alcohols and Ethers

42.1What is the difference between an alcohol, an ether, an epoxide, and an oxirane? Are these mutually exclusive terms?
 
42.2What two additions to our understanding of IUPAC substitutive nomenclature are needed to name alcohols?
 
42.3How do we form the prefix for the alkoxy groups in ethers?
 
42.4How are simple alcohols and ethers named using IUPAC functional group nomenclature?
 
42.5Epoxides can be named either using prefixes or based on the oxirane ring system. When might one be preferable over the other?
 
42.6Why do ethers have such low boiling points relative to their isomeric alcohols?
 
42.7What is the order of increasing polarity for 1o, 2o, and 3o alcohols? What explains this order? How is it evidenced in boiling points?
 
7 questions
364 questions for Organic I

364 Questions for Organic I

Dearest Student. This web page is a set of questions I call Detailed Intended Learning Outcomes For Organic Chemistry (Part I). Some time ago I asked myself, "Bob, what do you think are the key questions that you hope students will be able to answer after taking Chemistry 247 at St. Olaf College?" So here you have them. Some are very simple; some require more thought. All are good questions to be thinking about as you read, discuss, and master the practical aspects of organic chemistry. They are discussion starters and review tips. There are no answers here (though there are some clues). The questions are here to help you focus on what's important (to me, at least!) and organize your learning process. The questions are grouped into topics. Bite-size chunks. Take them a few at a time. Don't feast on them all at one sitting!

(preliminary version 2021.01.15 feeback: Bob Hanson)