ETHYL CHLORIDE, or HYDROCHLORIC

See also:

• ETHER, (C2H5)2O

ETHER, C2H5C1  , a chemical compound prepared by passing dry hydrochloric acid gas into absolute alcohol . It is a colourless liquid with a sweetish burning taste and an agreeable odour . It is extremely volatile, boiling at 12.5° C . (54'5° F.), and is therefore a gas at ordinary room temperatures; it is stored in glass tubes fitted with screw-capped nozzles . The vapour burns with a smoky green-edged flame . It is largely used in dentistry and slight surgical operations to produce local anaesthesia (q.v.), and is known by the trade-name kelene . More volatile anaesthetics such as anestile or anaesthyl and coryl are produced by mixing with methyl chloride; a mixture of ethyl and methyl chlorides with ethyl bromide is known as somnoform .