Re: Ethyl- and Acetyl-


david.brown.0@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Why are some things called ethyl and others acetyl? From ethylene
(ethene) and acetylene (ethyne), I know there must be some distinction.
Further, what is the deal with the name ethyl acetate? Why isn't it
ethyl ethanoate (per IUPAC) or some other combination, like acetyl
acetate or acetyl ethanoate, or even diethyl ester (cf. diethyl
ether/ethyl ethanoate)?

Acetylene was 'discovered' in the 1800s, before anyone knew what atoms
were. Berthelot found that he could oxidize this new compound to
acetic acid (Latin for vinegar = acetum) and coined the name. The name
stuck, and really it has little to do with the acetyl group other than
the fact that it has 2 carbons. There's no point fussing over names.
Virtually no one listens to IUPAC, their rules are too burdensome in
most modern chemistry if they even exist, and frankly for a welder,
'ethyne' is ridiculous.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ethyl- and Acetyl-
    ... I would guess that acetylene was discovered as a product of an acetyl compound, perhaps elimination of H2O from acetaldehyde. ... Take acetic acid CH3.CO.OH and add an ethyl group - you get CH3.CO.O.CH2.CH3, ethyl acetate. ... The objection to using that terminology with esters is that the ester linkage is asymmetric, with a carbonyl on one side only, so terms like propyl ethyl ester would be ambiguous, unlike in the situation with the symmetric ether linkage. ... follow its meaningless rules and come to some meaningless conclusion. ...
    (sci.chem)
  • Ethyl- and Acetyl-
    ... Why are some things called ethyl and others acetyl? ... what is the deal with the name ethyl acetate? ... ethyl ethanoate or some other combination, ... or even diethyl ester (cf. diethyl ...
    (sci.chem)