Common names of ethers are derived from alkyl/aryl groups in alphabetical order, followed by the word ‘ether’. In IUPAC nomenclature, ethers are considered hydrocarbon derivatives, replacing a hydrogen atom with an –OR or –OAr group, where R and Ar represent alkyl and aryl groups, respectively, with the larger group chosen as the parent hydrocarbon.
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Common names of ethers are typically derived from the names of the alkyl or aryl groups bonded to the oxygen atom on either side. The alkyl groups are listed alphabetically, followed by the word “ether.” For example, ethyl methyl ether consists of ethyl and methyl groups on either side of the oxygen atom. In the IUPAC system, ethers are named by identifying the substituent groups on both sides of the oxygen atom and using the term “oxy” to denote the presence of oxygen. The longer alkyl group is treated as the parent, and the shorter one becomes the substituent, named as alkyl alkyl ether.