Diethyl ether absorbs oxygen to form

Options

A. Acetic acid
B. Ether peroxide
C. Ether suboxide
D. Ethane

Answer

To solve the question "Diethyl ether absorbs oxygen to form," we will analyze the reaction of diethyl ether with oxygen and identify the product formed.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Structure of Diethyl Ether**:
Diethyl ether has the molecular formula C2H5OC2H5. It can also be represented as CH3CH2OCH2CH3.

2. **Reaction with Oxygen**:
When diethyl ether (C2H5OC2H5) is exposed to oxygen (O2), it can undergo a reaction where oxygen is inserted into the ether structure.

3. **Formation of Hydroperoxide**:
The initial product formed from the reaction of diethyl ether with oxygen is diethyl ether hydroperoxide. This compound can be represented as C2H5O-OH (where the O-O bond indicates the presence of a peroxide).

4. **Polymerization**:
If the hydroperoxide undergoes further reactions, it can lead to the formation of more complex structures, including ether peroxides. These compounds contain peroxide linkages (–O–O–) and can be represented as R-O-O-R, where R is the alkyl group from diethyl ether.

5. **Conclusion**:
The primary product formed when diethyl ether absorbs oxygen is diethyl ether hydroperoxide, and upon further reactions, it can lead to the formation of diethyl ether peroxide.

### Final Answer:
Diethyl ether absorbs oxygen to form diethyl ether hydroperoxide, which can further polymerize to form diethyl ether peroxide.