Diethyl ether on prolonged exposure to air forms

Options

A.
B.
C.
D.

Answer

C

Explanation

When exposed to air and light for a long time, ethers are oxidized to form hydroperoxides or just peroxides.
`CH_(3)CH_(2)-O-CH_(2)CH_(3)+O_(2)overset(hv)(rarr)`

In general
`RCH_(2)CH_(2)OCH_(2)CH_(2)R+O_(2)rarrRCH_(2)overset(OOH)overset(c )HOCH_(2)CH_(2)R`
The product is a hydroperoxide ether `(ROOH "compounds are hydroperoxides")`.
Hydroperoxides (which are often solides) explode when heated or rubbed abrasively. the hydroperoxides are formed by long exposure of ethers to atomospheric `O_(2)`. they are dissolved in the ether and are concentrated when the ether is purified by distillation.