Ether has many useful applications. It is used as a solvent, as an additive to motor fuel to increase the octane number and even for anesthesia. Therefore, many would like to know how this substance can be synthesized in practice.
It is necessary
Distillation flask, stopper with capillary funnel and thermometer, rubber tube, glass tube, refrigerator, dropping funnel, burner, asbestos mesh, alcohol, concentrated sulfuric acid, ice water, sodium hydroxide solution, calcium chloride solution
Instructions
Step 1
Take a distillation flask with a volume of 200 ml, pour 30 ml of alcohol into it and mix gently, gradually adding concentrated sulfuric acid in an amount of 30 ml. Then close the flask with a stopper with a capillary funnel and a thermometer. In this case, the bulb of the thermometer must be in the liquid. Use a rubber tube to connect a glass tube with a curved and pulled-out end to the leg of the dropping funnel.
Step 2
Connect the flask to the condenser, having previously attached the suction flask to it as a receiver. Place a long rubber tube on the side tube of the flask to divert the ether vapors towards the side. Cool the receiver with ice water.
Step 3
Pour 120 ml of alcohol into a dropping funnel and heat the flask through an asbestos mesh with a burner. When the temperature reaches 140 degrees, start gradually adding alcohol. At the same time, make sure that the temperature does not reach more than 150 degrees. Finish adding alcohol after 45-60 minutes. In this case, heat the mixture for another 5 minutes, then turn off the burner and disconnect the receiver.
Step 4
Shake the distillate in a separatory funnel together with a 10% sodium solution in an amount equal to 1/3 of the volume of the entire distillate in order to remove the sulfurous acid contained in it. Separate the sodium solution, and then, to remove alcohol, treat the ether with a saturated solution of calcium chloride, taken in volume? distillate volume.
Step 5
After separating the aqueous layer, pour the ether into a dry bottle, add calcium chloride and leave to stand for 4 to 5 hours. After that, distill ether from the distillation flask, while collecting the fraction boiling at a temperature of 33-38 degrees.
