Exploring the Chemistry of Ethyl Ether and Hydroiodic Acid

What is the only organic product obtained when ethyl ether is heated with excess HI for several hours?

a) Ethanol

b) Ethyl iodide

c) Ethyl alcohol

Answer:

True

When ethyl ether is heated with excess HI for several hours, the only organic product obtained is ethyl iodide. This statement is indeed true.

Ethers react with HI to form the corresponding alcohols and alkyl iodides. Similarly, ethyl ether reacts with excess of HI to form ethanol and ethyl iodide. However, in the presence of excess HI, ethanol also undergoes SN2 reaction with HI to form ethyl iodide as the sole product.

This substitution reaction occurs where the iodide ion replaces the ethoxy group, resulting in the formation of ethyl iodide. Therefore, ethyl iodide is the only product when ethyl ether reacts with excess of HI for several hours.