Distillation of diethyl ether to dryness may cause...

Name: Problem 8, Chapter 24: Cengage Chemistry in 30 days by A J Prince for IIT JEE EAMCET MP PET SEE TNPCEE RPETEAP BCECE GUJCET CEE 2012
Uploaded: 2021-07-11T12:42:28-08:00
Duration: 1 min 1 s
Channel: Narayan Hari
Description: Distillation of diethyl ether to dryness may cause explosion. The reason is that (a) It is very volatile (b) It is very unstable (c) It polymerizes on heating to form an explosive compound (d) It may contain ether hydroperoxide formed by autooxidation which decomposes very rapidly on heating

Distillation of diethyl ether to dryness may cause explosion. The reason is that (a) It is very volatile (b) It is very unstable (c) It polymerizes on heating to form an explosive compound (d) It may contain ether hydroperoxide formed by autooxidation which decomposes very rapidly on heating

Distillation of diethyl ether to dryness may cause explosion. The reason is that
(a) It is very volatile
(b) It is very unstable
(c) It polymerizes on heating to form an explosive compound
(d) It may contain ether hydroperoxide formed by autooxidation which decomposes very rapidly on heating

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Key Concepts

Explosion Hazards from Peroxide Decomposition

The explosive risk associated with the distillation of diethyl ether to dryness is primarily due to the presence of these peroxide contaminants. When heated during distillation, the unstable hydroperoxides can decompose violently, releasing energy rapidly which may lead to an explosion. This highlights the importance of controlling peroxide levels and avoiding distillation to complete dryness in such solvents.

Peroxide Formation in Ethers

Ethers such as diethyl ether are particularly susceptible to the formation of peroxides and hydroperoxides when exposed to air over time. These peroxide compounds accumulate in the ether, and even in seemingly pure samples they can reach levels that pose a serious risk due to their instability and potential for rapid decomposition.

Autooxidation

Autooxidation is a process by which organic compounds, particularly those with reactive C-H bonds, react with molecular oxygen in the air to form peroxides or hydroperoxides. This reaction often occurs slowly at room temperature, but the products formed can be unstable and hazardous, especially when concentrated or subjected to additional stress like heat.

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