Question

Give a balanced chemical equation for the following reaction:

Diethyl ether is treated with phosphorous pentachloride.

Answer 1

When diethyl ether is treated with phosphorus pentachloride, ·ethyl chloride and Phosphorus oxychloride are formed.

\[\ce{\underset{Diethyl ether}{C2H5OC2H5} + \underset{pentachloride}{\underset{Phosphorous}{PCl5}} -> \underset{Ethyl chloride}{2C2H5Cl} + \underset{oxychloride}{\underset{Phosphorous}{POCl3}}}\]