Ether (Chemistry)
Ether, in chemistry, an organic oxide. Diethyl ether, a transparent liquid with a sweet smell, is the most familiar kind. It is prepared by distilling a mixture of five parts alcohol with nine parts sulfuric acid. It is used as a general anesthetic in surgery. The patient inhales ether vapors mixed with ethanol, nitrous oxide, ethylene, or cyclopropane. Diethyl ether is also used as a solvent in the manufacture of explosives, and in the extraction of alkaloids, fats, oils, resins, and waxes. A fine spray of diethyl ether is used to harden animal tissues (by cooling them through evaporation) so that they are firm enough to dissect.
Diethyl ether is also called ethyl ether, ethyl oxide, and diethyl oxide. The chemical formula is (C2H5)2O.