• British Pharmacopoeia Volume V
  • Appendices
  • Appendix I A. General Reagents

Ether

Ether Diethyl ether; C4H10O = 74.12 (60-29-7)

Analytical reagent grade of commerce.

A volatile, highly flammable, colourless liquid; boiling point, 34° to 35°; bp2012_v5_46_005_[appendix_i_a]_e d_20_20.png, 0.713 to 0.715.

Do not distil unless the ether complies with the following test for peroxides.

Peroxides Place 8 mL of potassium iodide and starch solution in a 12 mL ground-glass-stoppered cylinder about 1.5 cm in diameter. Fill completely with the reagent being examined, shake vigorously and allow to stand in the dark for 30 minutes. No colour is produced.

Store protected from light at a temperature not exceeding 15°. The name and concentration of any added stabiliser are stated on the label.