Editing Diethyl ether (section)

== Safety, stability, regulations ==
Diethyl ether is extremely flammable and may form explosive vapour/air mixtures.<ref name=msds01>{{cite web |url=http://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/safetyclass/SDS/GHS-Et2O.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113221658/http://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/safetyclass/SDS/GHS-Et2O.pdf |archive-date=2014-11-13}}</ref>

Since ether is heavier than air it can collect low to the ground and the vapour may travel considerable distances to ignition sources. Ether will ignite if exposed to an open flame, though due to its high flammability, an open flame is not required for ignition. Other possible ignition sources include – but are not limited to – hot plates, steam pipes, heaters, and electrical arcs created by switches or outlets.{{r|msds01}} Vapour may also be ignited by the static electricity which can build up when ether is being poured from one vessel into another. The autoignition temperature of diethyl ether is {{convert|160|C|F}}. The diffusion of diethyl ether in air is {{nowrap|9.18 × 10<sup>−6</sup> m<sup>2</sup>/s}} (298 K, 101.325 kPa).{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

Ether is sensitive to light and air, tending to form explosive [[diethyl ether peroxide|peroxides]].{{r|msds01}} Ether peroxides have a higher boiling point than ether and are contact explosives when dry.{{r|msds01}} Commercial diethyl ether is typically supplied with trace amounts of the [[antioxidant]] [[butylated hydroxytoluene]] (BHT), which reduces the formation of peroxides. Storage over [[sodium hydroxide]] precipitates the intermediate ether hydroperoxides. Water and peroxides can be removed by either distillation from [[sodium]] and [[benzophenone]], or by passing through a column of [[activated alumina]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=W. L. F. Armarego |author2=C. L. L. Chai | title = Purification of laboratory chemicals | year = 2003 | publisher = Butterworth-Heinemann | location = Boston | isbn = 978-0-7506-7571-0}}</ref>

Due to its application in the manufacturing of illicit substances, it is listed in the Table II precursor under the [[United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances]] as well as substances such as [[acetone]], [[toluene]] and [[sulfuric acid]].<ref>[http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/list/red.pdf Microsoft Word – RedListE2007.doc<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227224025/http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/list/red.pdf |date=February 27, 2008}}</ref>