Difference between diethyl ether and petroleum ether

Both liquids are of enormous importance in the field of industrial applications. With the similarity in the names of these liquids, most people think that they are similar compounds. But they are actually different liquids with different uses. They can be differentiated as petroleum ether is a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, while diethyl ether is a pure organic liquid with the formula CH3CH2OCH2CH3. Diethyl ether is a purely organic liquid as it has an oxygen atom with carbons on each side, on the other hand, petroleum ether does not contain an ether bond (-O-), and it is a mixture of different hydrocarbon compounds like pentane and hexane.

Comparative chart

What is diethyl ether?

Diethyl ether is also known as ether as it is the pure organic liquid that has an oxygen atom with carbons on both sides. The chemical and molecular formula of diethyl ether are CH3CH2OCH2CH3 and C ₄ H ₁₀ O respectively. Diethyl Ether is a highly volatile, colorless, flammable pure organic liquid that is used primarily as a solvent in laboratories and also as a starting fluid for some of the engines. Ether are organic compounds in which two alkyl groups, aryl groups or an alkyl group and an aryl group are connected to both sides of an oxygen atom. In simpler words, we can say that in the formation of diethyl ether, two ethyl groups (-CH ₂ CH ₃) are linked through an oxygen atom (C ₂ H ₅ -OC ₂ H ₅ ). Diethyl ether freezes at -116 degrees Celsius and boils at 35 degrees and has a characteristic strong odor with a sweetish taste and smell.

People often think of petroleum ether as the other name for diethyl ether, but it really isn’t, as petroleum ether is a mixture of different hydrocarbon compounds. The other amazing thing about petroleum ether is that it contains no ether bond (-O-). The only reason behind the use of the figurative term ether is to signify the extreme lightness and volatility of this compound made up of different hydrocarbon compounds. Petroleum ether is composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons and has a boiling range between 35 and 60 ° C. Benzine, benzine, petroleum benzine, canadol, light ligroin, and skellysolve are some of the other names used for petroleum ether. Petroleum ether is the product that we obtain from the petroleum refining process. Between gasoline and kerosene,

Diethyl ether vs. petroleum ether

• Petroleum ether is a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, while diethyl ether is a pure organic liquid with the chemical formula CH3CH2OCH2CH3.
• Diethyl ether is a purely organic liquid as it has an oxygen atom with carbons on both sides, on the other hand, petroleum ether does not contain an ether (-O-) bond.
• The only reason behind the use of the figurative term “ether” in light petroleum is to signify the extreme lightness and volatility of this compound.
• Some ether or diethyl ether may be soluble in water, but petroleum ether is always insoluble in water.