On the Comparison of Polarity between Ether and Ethyl Acetate

Ethers and esters are both common substances in organic chemistry. In today's discussion of the difference in polarity between ether (Diethyl Ether) and ethyl acetate (Ethyl Acetate), its molecular structure and properties should be investigated in detail.

For ether, its molecular structure contains ether bonds (-O-), and the ends are connected by ethyl (-C ² H). Its molecular shape is relatively symmetrical. Although the oxygen atom has a certain electronegativity, the molecule is slightly polar. However, due to the push electron action of ethyl, and the high molecular symmetry, the overall polarity is weak.

In contrast, ethyl acetate contains ester groups (-COO-) in the molecule. In this ester group, the carbon-oxygen double bond of the carbonyl group (C = O), the oxygen has strong electronegativity, which makes the electron cloud biased towards the oxygen atom and presents a strong polarity. At the same time, the ethoxy group (-OC ² H) connected to the carbonyl group also contributes to the molecular polarity.

In summary, in terms of polarity, ethyl acetate has a more uneven electron cloud distribution due to the characteristics of the ester group, and its polarity is stronger than that of ether. That is, the polarity of ether is weaker than that of ethyl acetate, which is determined by the essential difference in the molecular structure of the two.