Question

How many carbon atoms are present in the third homologue of methyl ether?

Answer 1

Hint: The homologous series represents the group of organic compounds which have specific characteristics. One of the main characteristics of a homologous series is that its consecutive members vary from each other by a $ - C{H_2}$ group.

Complete step by step answer:
Ether is one of the functional groups of hydrocarbons in which an oxygen atom is bonded with two alkyl groups by a single bond.
The ether group is represented by $R - O - R$.
Where R is the alkyl group.
The homologous series ether is shown below.
1. Methyl ether
It is the first member of the homologous series of ether.
The formula of methyl ether is shown below.
$C{H_3} - O - C{H_3}$
Methyl ether is the first compound of the homologous series of ether.
2. Methyl ethyl ether
It is the second member of the homologous series of ether.
The formula of methyl ethyl ether is shown below.
$C{H_3} - O - C{H_2} - C{H_3}$
The second compound of the homologous series methyl ethyl ether differs from methyl ether by one extra $ - C{H_2}$ group.
3. Methyl propyl ether
It is the third member of the homologous series of ether.
The formula of methyl propyl ether is shown below.
$C{H_3} - O - C{H_2} - C{H_2} - C{H_3}$
The third compound of the homologous series methyl propyl ether differs from methyl propyl ether by one consecutive $ - C{H_2}$ group and from methyl ether by two consecutive $ - C{H_2}$ groups.
The number of carbons present in the third homologue of methyl ether is four.


Note:
The general formula of ether is ${C_n}{H_{2n + 2}}O$. The general formula remains the same for every member of the homologous series and the chemical properties of the compounds also as the same functional group is attached.