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Related Concept Videos

Physical Properties of Ethers02:17

Physical Properties of Ethers

Overview
An ether molecule has a net dipole moment due to the polarity of C–O bonds. Subsequently, boiling points of ethers are lower than those of alcohols of comparable molecular weight and slightly higher than those of hydrocarbons of comparable molecular weight (Table 1).
Ethers can act as hydrogen bond acceptors, making them more water-soluble than hydrocarbons, but since ethers cannot act as hydrogen bond donors, they are much less soluble in water than alcohols. Ethers are considered...
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis02:29

Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis

Overview
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols02:32

Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols

Alcohols are organic compounds in which a hydroxy group is attached to a saturated carbon. Phenols are a class of alcohols containing a hydroxy group attached to an aromatic ring. The physical properties of the alcohols and phenols are influenced by hydrogen bonding due to the oxygen–hydrogen dipole in the hydroxy functional group and dispersion forces between alkyl or aryl regions of alcohol and phenol molecules.
Alcohols possess a higher boiling point than aliphatic hydrocarbons of similar...
¹H NMR of Labile Protons: Temporal Resolution01:10

¹H NMR of Labile Protons: Temporal Resolution

Protons bonded to heteroatoms such as nitrogen and oxygen exhibit a range of chemical shift values. This is due to the varying degree of hydrogen bonding between the proton and the heteroatom in other molecules. The extent of hydrogen bonding affects the electron density around the proton, thereby giving different chemical shift values for the protons in the proton NMR spectrum.
The –OH proton in alcohols typically appears in the range of δ 2 to 5 ppm but can vary depending on the specific...
Acidity and Basicity of Alcohols and Phenols02:36

Acidity and Basicity of Alcohols and Phenols

Like water, alcohols are weak acids and bases. This is attributed to the polarization of the O–H bond making the hydrogen partially positive. Moreover, the electron pairs on the oxygen atom of alcohol make it both basic and nucleophilic. Protonation of an alcohol converts hydroxide, a poor leaving group, into water—a good one. The two acid–base equilibria corresponding to ethanol are depicted below.
Organic Compounds03:02

Organic Compounds

All living things are formed mostly of carbon compounds called organic compounds. The category of organic compounds includes both natural and synthetic compounds that contain carbon. Although a single, precise definition has yet to be identified by the chemistry community, most agree that a defining trait of organic molecules is the presence of carbon as the principal element, bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms. However, some carbon-containing compounds such as carbonates, cyanides, and...

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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Ethanol's molecular targets.

R Adron Harris1, James R Trudell, S John Mihic

  • 1Section of Neurobiology and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Institutes for Neuroscience and Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA. harris@mail.utexas.edu

Science Signaling
|July 18, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores how ethanol affects the body, focusing on protein interactions. It identifies specific molecular sites where ethanol binds, advancing our understanding of alcohol

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Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
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An Assay for Measuring the Effects of Ethanol on the Locomotion Speed of Caenorhabditis elegans
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Quantification of Ethanol Levels in Zebrafish Embryos Using Head Space Gas Chromatography
08:22

Quantification of Ethanol Levels in Zebrafish Embryos Using Head Space Gas Chromatography

Published on: February 11, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Ethanol (alcohol) induces diverse physiological and behavioral effects, with mechanisms not fully elucidated.
  • Historically, ethanol's action was attributed to non-specific disruption of cell membranes; current theories emphasize protein interactions.
  • Understanding ethanol's molecular targets is crucial for explaining its wide-ranging effects on neurotransmission, enzymes, and ion channels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review criteria for identifying specific ethanol binding sites on proteins.
  • To highlight proteins with substantial molecular evidence for direct ethanol interaction.
  • To clarify whether observed ethanol effects result from direct protein binding or indirect mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on ethanol's molecular mechanisms.
  • Analysis of criteria for establishing direct ethanol-protein binding.
  • Identification and discussion of proteins with documented ethanol binding sites.

Main Results:

  • Proteins, rather than lipid membranes, are central to current ethanol mechanism theories.
  • Many biochemical processes are affected by ethanol, but specific binding sites are often unknown.
  • Several proteins exhibit molecular-level evidence for distinct ethanol binding sites.

Conclusions:

  • Establishing direct ethanol binding is critical for understanding its effects.
  • This review provides a framework for identifying specific alcohol binding sites.
  • Further research can elucidate the precise molecular interactions underlying ethanol's actions.