The organic compound diethyl ether consists of two carbon atoms joined by oxygen atoms (C-O-C). It is a colorless, highly flammable, highly volatile liquid with an ethereal odor (sweet). The molecular formula of ether is CH3CH2OCH2CH3

The IUPAC name for ether is ethoxy-ethane.

Valerius Cordus synthesized diethyl ether in 1540 and gave it the name "sweet sulphate oil" (sulphate sulphate oil), reflecting that it was produced by distilling a mixture of ethanol and sulphate. Auguste Sigmund Frobenius named this substance "Aether" in 1729. It is often used as an engine starting fluid and as a solvent in laboratories. Before the advent of non-flammable drugs such as halothane, it was used as a general anesthetic. It has been used in the past to make intoxicating recreational drugs.

Structure of diethyl ether

Diethyl ether, commonly referred to as ether, is an ether-like chemical molecule with the formula (C2H5) 2O.R-O-r. It's used to represent ether. Here, R stands for alkyl (C2H5), O stands for oxygen.

Structure of diethyl ether

Physical properties of diethyl ether

Diethyl ether (diethyl ether sds) is a colorless liquid with a molar mass of 74.123g/mol.

It's very volatile.

It is highly flammable.

It has a sweet and pungent smell.

The boiling point is 34.6°C (94.3°F; 307.8K).

The melting point is -116.3°C (-177.3°F, 156.8 K).

Its density is 0.7134 g/cm3

liquid

Its vapor pressure is 440 mmHg at 20°C (58.66 kPa at 20°C).

Chemical properties of diethyl ether

Combustion: Due to the high flammability of ether, it will undergo a combustion reaction to produce carbon dioxide and water.

C2H5OC2H5+6O2→4CO2+5H2O

Halogenation: When halogenated with halogens such as chlorine or bromine, the ether undergoes a substitution reaction in the absence of sunlight to form a halogen-substituted ether.

C2H5OC2H5+Cl2→C2H4 (Cl) OC2H4 (Cl)