why must care be taken to not boil ethers to absolute dryness?

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why must care be taken to not boil ethers to absolute dryness?

2007-11-03 13:57:22 · 3 answers · asked by Patrick B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry

3 answers

It is for safety. Ethers are notorious for forming peroxides. Peroxides are explosive. If you remove the ether the peroxides will explode. When I was in grad school a classmate accidentally concentrated a hydrogen peroxide solution. It blew up and destroyed the lab. Fortunately nobody was hurt.

2007-11-03 14:05:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋

Because ethers form peroxides on standing. The peroxides might explode on heating to dryness. Ether peroxide: -C-O-O-C

2007-11-03 14:01:25 · answer #2 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋

Whatcha cookin'?

2007-11-03 14:00:47 · answer #3 · answered by Joel G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋