Diethyl ether facts for kids
Diethyl ether is a clear liquid chemical often simply called ether. It is known for burning very easily and boiling at a low temperature, around 35°C. Ether has a sweet smell and does not mix with water.
Ether was first discovered a long time ago, in 1275. In the past, it was used in medicine to make people unconscious during surgery, acting as a general anesthetic. However, doctors now use other chemicals because ether can have side effects and is very flammable, meaning it can easily catch fire. Today, scientists often use ether as a solvent to help mix chemicals for chemical reactions.
Ether is created as a byproduct when ethanol is made. This means it's produced during another process, which makes it not very expensive.
Contents
How Ether Was Used
Ether played an important role in medicine. For many years, it was the main substance used to put patients to sleep for operations. This allowed doctors to perform surgeries without causing pain to the patient.
From Discovery to Medical Use
The discovery of ether in 1275 was a big step. But it took many centuries for its medical uses to be fully understood. In the 1800s, doctors started to use ether more widely as an anesthetic. This changed surgery forever, making it much safer and less painful.
Why Ether is Not Used as Much Today
Even though ether was very helpful, it had some problems. One big issue is how easily it catches fire. This made it risky to use in operating rooms. Also, patients sometimes had unpleasant side effects after waking up. Because of these reasons, newer and safer anesthetics have been developed and are now used instead.
How Ether is Made
Ether is often made during the process of creating ethanol. Ethanol is a type of alcohol. When ethanol is produced, ether can be a leftover substance. This makes ether relatively inexpensive to get.
Images for kids
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Panel from a monument in Boston celebrating the first public use of ether as an anesthetic during surgery.
See also
In Spanish: Éter etílico para niños
