Ethyl vs. Methyl

Main Difference
The main difference between ethyl and methyl is that Ethyl is a group with two carbon atoms, whereas Methyl is a group with one carbon atom.

Difference Between Ethyl and Methyl

Ethyl vs. Methyl

The group which is made up of two carbon atoms is called the ethyl group, whereas, the group which is made up of one carbon atom is called the Methyl group.

Ethyl vs. Methyl

An ethyl group is that kind of group which is derived from the alkane ethane. Conversely, a methyl group is that kind of group which is derived from the alkane methane.

Ethyl vs. Methyl

The chemical formula for the ethyl group is –C2H5, on the flip side, –CH3 is the chemical formula for the methyl group.

Ethyl vs. Methyl

The molar mass comprised of the ethyl group is 29 g/mol, on the other side, the molar mass comprised by the methyl group is 15 g/mol.

Ethyl vs. Methyl

An ethyl group is formed when one hydrogen atom is removed from ethane; on the other hand, the methyl group is formed when one hydrogen atom is removed from methane.

Ethyl vs. Methyl

Ethyl groups are the groups that can take part in the ethylation reactions, whereas, methyl groups are the groups that can take part in the methylation reactions.

Ethyl vs. Methyl

In 1H NMR spectroscopy, the coupling due to an ethyl group gives us a triplet and a quartet, on the flip side, in 1H NMR spectroscopy, the coupling due to a methyl group gives us a quartet.

Ethylnoun

(organic chemistry) The univalent hydrocarbon radical, C₂H₅, formally derived from ethane by the loss of a hydrogen atom.

Methylnoun

(organic compound) The univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH₃-, formally derived from methane by the loss of a hydrogen atom; a compound or part of a compound formed by the attachment of such a radical.

Ethylnoun

the univalent hydrocarbon radical C2H5 derived from ethane by the removal of one hydrogen atom

Methylnoun

the univalent radical CH3- derived from methane

Comparison Chart

Ethyl	Methyl
The group which is made up of two carbon atoms is called the ethyl group.	The group which is made up of one carbon atom is called the Methyl group.
Derivation
This group is derived from the alkane ethane.	It is the derivative of alkane methane.
Saturation
An ethyl group is a saturated group of atoms.	A methyl group is also a saturated group of atoms.
Composition
An ethyl group is composed of only carbon and hydrogen atoms.	It is also made up of only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Chemical Formula
–C₂H_{5 is}the chemical formula for the ethyl group.	–CH_{3 is referred to as}the chemical formula for the methyl group.
Molar Mass
The molar mass comprised of the ethyl group is 29 g/mol.	The molar mass for this one is 15 g/mol.
Formation
An ethyl group is formed when one hydrogen atom is removed from ethane.	Methyl group is formed after the removal of one hydrogen atom from methane.
Alkylation
Ethyl groups may participate in the ethylation reactions.	Methyl groups may participate in methylation reactions.
¹ H NMR spectroscopy
In ¹H NMR spectroscopy, the coupling due to an ethyl group gives us a triplet and a quartet.	In ¹H NMR spectroscopy, the coupling due to a methyl group gives us a quartet.

Ethyl vs. Methyl

The methyl and ethyl are the terms that are used to give the name to the group of the atoms that are attached to the principal carbon chain. They are called alkyl substituents. Ethyl is the group that is made up of five hydrogen atoms and two carbon atoms. Methyl, on the other hand, is the group that is made up of three hydrogen atoms and one carbon atoms. –C₂H₅is referred to as the chemical formula for the ethyl group. The methyl group, on the flip side, has the chemical formula –CH₃.

The ethyl group is derived by removing one hydrogen atom from the ethane (C₂H₆). The methyl group, on the other side, is formed when one hydrogen atom is removed from the methane. The prefix –ethyl is used to give a name to the compounds which contain the ethyl groups. For instance, the compound is known as ethyl alcohol when the –OH group is attached to an ethyl group, and it is known as an ethyl halide when the ethyl group gets attached to a halide group, e.g., ethyl chloride. The name of the compounds that have methyl groups is given by using the prefix –methyl. For instance, when the methyl group gets attached to an acetate group it is named methyl acetate.

What is Ethyl?

An ethyl group is that kind of group which is an alkyl substituent and is made up of five hydrogen atoms and two carbon atoms. Its chemical formula is given as –C₂H₅. There is an empty space in the ethyl group where an atom or a group of atoms may attach. Ethylation is the process in which an ethyl group is introduced to a different molecule. That ethyl group gets attached to the empty space on that molecule. For instance, when benzene reacts with ethyl chloride in the presence of HCl and FeCl₃, ethyl substituted benzene is formed because of the occurrence of electrophilic substitution reaction.

The carbon of the ethyl group has a tetrahedral geometry because it has bound with one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms. The bond angle of H-C-H is 109^o. The carbon atoms of the ethyl group are sp³ hybridized. An sp³ hybridized orbital of each carbon atom overlaps to form the carbon-carbon sigma bond. The bond present between the hydrogen and carbon is also a sigma bond. The bond rotation is feasible because of the single sigma bond, which is present between carbon atoms, and it does not require a great amount of energy. The other binding group will also make a sigma bond with an ethyl group.

What is Methyl?

Methyl is the group with one carbon atom and is the simplest alkyl substituent. It shows tetrahedral geometry and sp³ form of hybridization. It has an empty space where an atom or group of atoms may attach. The process in which the methyl group is introduced with a different molecule is known as methylation. E.g., when benzene reacts with the methyl chloride in the presence of HCl and FeCl_3, then toluene is formed, which is methyl-substituted benzene.

It is an extremely reactive form and may be present in the anion (CH₃^–), cation (CH₃⁺), or radical form (CH₃^.). But its reactivity highly depends on the neighboring substituents. By using a strong oxidizing agent like potassium permanganate, it can be oxidized to the carboxylic groups.

Conclusion
The above discussion summarizes that the ethyl group is made up of two carbon atoms and five hydrogen atoms, while, the methyl group is made up of one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms. The chemical formula of the former is –C₂H_5,and it has a molar mass of 29 g/mol, whereas, the chemical formula of the latter is –CH₃and it has a molar mass of 15 g/mol.