Concept:Lower ethers are highly volatile due to weak intermolecular forces, so ethers with low molecular mass exist as gases at room temperature.
Explanation:Ethers having a small number of carbon atoms are highly volatile and inflammable substances.
Dimethyl ether and methoxyethane (
CH3​OCH2​CH3​) are gases at room temperature, whereas other ethers are colourless liquids with a pleasant odour.
Among the given options, methoxyethane is the only ether that exists in the gaseous state at room temperature.
Its boiling point is lower than room temperature, which keeps it in the gas phase.
The other options, 1-methoxypropane (
CH3​OCH2​CH2​CH3​), 1-ethoxypropane (
CH3​CH2​OCH2​CH2​CH3​), and ethoxyethane (
CH3​CH2​OCH2​CH3​), have longer carbon chains and higher molecular masses.
As the molecular mass increases, the boiling point also increases, so these ethers remain as liquids at room temperature.
Answer:Methoxyethane (Option C) is gaseous at room temperature.