292 IXOEGANIC AGENTS 



^THER. Ether. (C, S,)fi. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — ^ther purus, B. P. ; aether fortior, pure 

 ether, E.; ether hydrique pur, Pr.; reiner sefcher, G. 



A liquid composed of about 96 per cent., by weight, of 

 absolute ether or ethyl oxide [{Gi'R^)fi'], and about 4 per 

 cent, of alcohol containing a little water. 



Derivation. — Obtained by distillation of alcohol with 

 sulphuric acid. There are two steps in the production of 

 ether ; sulphovinic acid and water are formed in the first 

 step. H,S 0, + C, H,0 H = C, H^, H S O, + H, 0. Sul- 

 phovinic acid is then further acted upon by alcohol. 



C,H„ H S 0, + C,H„ O H = (C,HJ, O + H,S O,. The 

 distillate is freed from water by agitation with calcium oxide 

 aud chloride, and subjected to redistillation. 



Properties. — A transparent, colorless, mobile liquid, 

 having a characteristic odor and a burning and sweetish 

 taste. Spec. gr. .725 to .728 at 59° P. Soluble in about 10 

 times its volume of water at 59° P. Miscible in all propor- 

 tions with alcohol, chloroform, benzine, benzol, fixed anil 

 volatile oils. Ether boils at about 37° C. (98.6° P.), and it 

 should therefore boil when a test tube, containing some 

 broken glass and half filled with it, is held for some time in 

 the hand. Ether is highly volatile and inflammable; its 

 vapor, when mixed with air and ignited, explodes violently. 

 The color of light blue litmus paper moistened with water 

 should not be changed when the paper is immersed in ether 

 for 10 minutes. Upon evaporation ether should leave no 

 residue. Ether is a solvent for fats, oils, alkaloids, resins, 

 gutta percha and gun cotton. Ether vapor is heavier than 

 air, and, consequently, etherization should never be done 

 above a light or fire. 



Dose.—JI. & C, § i.-ii. (30.-60.); Sh. A Sw., 3 ii.-iv. (8.-15.); 

 D., 11Vx.-3i. (.6-4). 



PEEPARATIONS. 



^ther Purificatus, (B. P. ) 



(Ether freed from most of its alcohol and water.) 



Spiritus Athens. Spirit of Ether. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Ether, 335 ; alcohol, 675. ( U. S. P.) Xiose— Same as for ether. 



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