What is Diethyl ether?
[[File:Diethyl-ether-3D-balls.png|thumb|The structure of a [[molecule]] of diethyl ether]] '''Diethyl ether''' is a clear [[liquid]] chemical. It is often just called '''ether'''. Ether burns very easily and [[boiling|boils]] at about 35°C. It has a sweet smell and does not mix with [[water]]. Ether was discovered in 1275. It was used in the past as a [[anesthetics|general anesthetic]] to make people [[unconscious]] during [[surgery]]. Now other chemicals are used because ether has [[side effect]]s and can catch fire. Ether is used as a [[solvent]] by [[scientists]] for [[chemical reaction]]s. People used to take ether as a [[drug|recreational drug]] (drugs used for fun, such as [[alcoholic drink|alcohol]]) in the 1800s. People would either drink a drink with small amounts of ether in it, just like people drink alcoholic drinks, or inhale the fumes given off by pure or nearly pure ether. This could have [[addiction|addicted]] these people to the ether if they did that often enough. It was a big problem in some places, like Ireland and Poland. It first became popular because Europeans thought it was unladylike to drink alcohol. Women would drink ether instead, as would teetotalers, people who had decided not to drink alcohol. It became illegal to sell ether in Poland in 1923. Ether is made as a [[byproduct]] when [[ethanol]] is made, so it is not very expensive. {{chem-stub}} {{Functional group}} {{Drug use}} {{Commonscat|Diethyl ether}} [[Category:Organic compounds]] [[Category:Anesthetics]]