Ingredient Dictionary

ETHYL ETHER

Diethyl ether is an ether in which the oxygen atom is linked to two ethyl groups.

Definition

Diethyl ether is an ether in which the oxygen atom is linked to two ethyl groups. It has a role as an inhalation anaesthetic, a non-polar solvent and a refrigerant. It is a volatile organic compound and an ether.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 0F5N573A2Y · registered name Ether · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Base that dissolves other ingredientsSOLVENT

Safety & regulatory references

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Names & identifiers

ETHYL ETHERINCI에틸에터Korean label name (MFDS standard)Ethane, 1,1'-oxybis-Synonym

CAS No.chemical registry number: 60-29-7
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 200-467-2
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID3021720
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID101720

IUPAC: Ethoxyethane
Molecular formula: C4H10O
Molecular weight: 74.123 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Diethyl ether appears as a clear colorless liquid with an anesthetic odor. Flash point -49 °F. Less dense than water and slightly soluble in water. Hence floats on water. Vapors are heavier than air. Used as a solvent and to make other chemicals. · Liquid
Odour: Sweetish, pungent odor · Ethereal odor
Boiling point: 94.3 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 34.6 °C at 760 mm Hg, 17.9 °C at 400 mm Hg, 2.2 °C at 200 mm Hg
Melting point: -177.3 °F (NTP, 1992) · -116.3 °C (stable crystals), -123.3 °C (metastable crystals)
Solubility: greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992) · Miscible with lower aliphatic alcohols, benzene, chloroform, petroleum ether, fat solvents, many oils, sol in concn hydrochloric acid
Density: 0.714 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.7134 at 20 °C/4 °C
Stability: It is slowly oxidized by action of air, moisture, and light, with formation of peroxides. · Peroxide formation may occur in ether containers that have been opened and remain in storage for more than six months. Peroxides may be detonated by friction , impact, or heating.
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -116 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 35 ℃
Flash point: -45 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 48 / 1.7 %
Vapour pressure: 538 ㎜Hg(25℃)
Vapour density: 2.6
Relative density: 0.713
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 0.89
Auto-ignition temperature: 160 ℃
Decomposition temperature: -8.807 ℃(kcal/g)
Viscosity: 0.2448 cP(20℃)
Molecular weight: 74.12

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 9 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Solvent6
Fuel2
Propellants, non-motive (blowing agents)1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

6 skin studies and 5 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low4

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 11 studies

Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin corrosion: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD guideline draft proposal for a new guideline, In Vitro Skin Irritation - reliability scoring based on 2009 guideline according to
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay) according to EU Method B.42 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay)
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) 2002 according to EU Method B.4 (Acute Toxicity: Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) 2008 according to
Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Category 2B
Eye Irritation · Screening
Ambiguous
eye irritation: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD Guideline 437 Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Test Method for Identifying Ocular Corrosives and Severe Irritants (BCOP Test) according to
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to EU Method B.5 (Acute Toxicity: Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to EPA OPPTS 870.2400 (Acute Eye Irritation) according to
Ambiguous
eye irritation: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · no guideline available other guideline: ICCVAm Test Method Evaluation Report: Appendix G - ICCVAM recommended HET-CAM Method Protocol (Nov. 2006) according to
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across