Editing Petroleum ether

{{Short description|Mixture of alkanes from oil}}
{{Chembox
| Name = Petroleum ether
| OtherNames = Benzine; Light ligroin; Light petroleum; pether
| Reference = <ref>{{citation | author=Dieter Stoye | contribution=Solvents | title=[[Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry]] | edition=7th | publisher=Wiley | year=2007 | page=41}}</ref><ref name="sax">{{citation | editor=N. Irving Sax | entry=Petroleum Spirits | title=Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials | publisher=Reinhold | year=1957 | pages=996–997 | url=https://archive.org/details/dangerousproperOOsaxn}}</ref><ref name="tox-pe">{{citation | author=Patricia J Beattie | contribution=Petroleum Ether | title=Encyclopedia of Toxicology | edition=2nd | volume=3 | publisher=Elsevier | year=2005 | pages=375–376}}</ref>
|Section1={{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 8032-32-4
| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| CASNo1 = 8030-30-6
| CASNo1_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}}
| UNII = 5OQ4BMR99T
| UNII1_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}}
| UNII1 = O3L624621X
| EINECS = 232-453-7
| ChemSpiderID = none
  }}
|Section2={{Chembox Properties
| MolarMass = 82.2 g/mol
| Appearance = Volatile, clear, colorless and non-fluorescent liquid
| Density = 0.653 g/mL
| MeltingPt = < 
| MeltingPtC = −73
| BoilingPtC = 42–62
| Solubility = insoluble
| SolubleOther = soluble
| Solvent = [[Ethanol]]
| VaporPressure = 31 kPa (20 °C)
| RefractIndex = 1.370
| Viscosity = 0.46 mPa·s
  }}
|Section7={{Chembox Hazards
| MainHazards =
| NFPA-H = 2
| NFPA-F = 4
| NFPA-R = 0
| GHSSignalWord = DANGER
| GHSPictograms = {{GHS flame}} {{GHS exclamation mark}} {{GHS health hazard}} {{GHS environment}}
| HPhrases = {{H-phrases|225|304|315|336|411}}
| PPhrases = {{P-phrases|210|243|273|301+310|303+361+353|301+330+331|403+235}}
| FlashPt = <
| FlashPtC = 0
| AutoignitionPtC = 246.11
| ExploLimits = 1.4–5.9 %
| LC50 = 3400 ppm (rat, 4 h)
| TLV-TWA = 300 ppm (1370 mg/m<sup>3</sup>) 8 h TWA
| REL = 100 ppm (400 mg/m<sup>3</sup>) 10 h TWA
| PEL = 100 ppm (400 mg/m<sup>3</sup>) 8 h TWA
| IDLH = 1000 ppm
  }}
|Section8={{Chembox Related
| OtherCompounds = [[Ligroin]], [[Petroleum benzine]], [[Petroleum spirit (disambiguation)|Petroleum spirit]], [[Stoddard solvent]], [[Naphtha]], [[White spirit]]
  }}
}}
'''Petroleum ether''' is the [[petroleum]] fraction consisting of [[aliphatic]] [[hydrocarbon]]s and boiling in the range 35–60&nbsp;°C, and commonly used as a laboratory [[solvent]].<ref>{{citation | editor=David R. Lide | title=[[CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics]] | edition=90th | year=2010 | publisher=CRC Press | pages=2–60}}</ref> Despite the name, petroleum ether is not an [[ether]]; the term is used only figuratively, signifying extreme lightness and volatility.

== Properties ==
[[File:Petroleum ether.JPG|thumb|left|litre bottle]]
The very lightest, most volatile liquid hydrocarbon solvents that can be bought from laboratory chemical suppliers may also be offered under the name petroleum ether. Petroleum ether consists mainly of aliphatic hydrocarbons and is usually low in [[aromatics]]. It is commonly [[hydrodesulfurized]] and may be [[hydrogenate]]d to reduce the amount of aromatic and other [[Saturated and unsaturated compounds|unsaturated]] hydrocarbons. Petroleum ether bears normally a descriptive suffix giving the boiling range. Thus, from the leading international laboratory chemical suppliers it is possible to buy various petroleum ethers with boiling ranges such as 30–50&nbsp;°C, 40–60&nbsp;°C, 50–70&nbsp;°C, 60–80&nbsp;°C, etc. In the United States, [[chemical purity|laboratory-grade]] aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents with boiling ranges as high as 100–140&nbsp;°C may be called petroleum ether, rather than petroleum spirit.<ref name="phenix">{{citation | author=Alan Phenix | title=Generic Hydrocarbon Solvents: a Guide to Nomenclature | journal=[[Western Association for Art Conservation#Newsletter|WAAC Newsletter]] | volume=29 | issue=2 | year=2007 | url=http://cool.conservation-us.org/waac/wn/wn29/wn29-2/wn29-204.pdf}}</ref>

It is not advisable to employ a fraction with a wider boiling point range than 20&nbsp;°C, because of possible loss of the more volatile portion during its use in recrystallisation, etc., and consequent different solubilising properties of the higher boiling residue.<ref name="vogel">{{citation | author=[[Arthur Vogel (chemist)|Arthur I. Vogel]] | title=Practical Organic Chemistry | edition=5th | publisher=Longman | year=1989 | pages=397–398 | url=https://archive.org/details/TextbookOfPracticalOrganicChemistry5thEd}}</ref>

Most of the unsaturated hydrocarbons may be removed by shaking two or three times with 10% of the volume worth of concentrated [[sulfuric acid]]; vigorous shaking is then continued with successive portions of a concentrated solution of [[potassium permanganate]] in 10% sulfuric acid until the color of the permanganate remains unchanged. The solvent is then thoroughly washed with [[sodium carbonate]] solution and then with water, dried over anhydrous [[calcium chloride]], and distilled. If required perfectly dry, it can be allowed to stand over [[sodium]] wire, or [[calcium hydride]].<ref name="vogel" />

== Standards ==
[[Ligroin]] is assigned the CAS Registry Number 8032-32-4, which is also applied to many other products, particularly those with low boiling points, called [[petroleum spirit (disambiguation)|petroleum spirit]], petroleum ether, and [[petroleum benzine]]. "[[Naphtha]]" has the CAS Registry Number 8030-30-6, which also covers petroleum benzine and petroleum ether: that is, the lower boiling point non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvents.<ref name="phenix" />

DIN 51630 provides for petroleum spirit (also called spezialbenzine or petrolether) which is described as "a special boiling-point spirit (SBPS) commonly used in laboratory applications, having high volatility and low aromatics content." Its initial boiling point is above 25&nbsp;°C, its final boiling point up to 80&nbsp;°C.<ref name="phenix" />

== Safety ==
Petroleum ethers are extremely volatile, have very low [[flash point]]s, and present a significant fire hazard.<ref name="phenix" /> Fires should be fought with foam, [[carbon dioxide]], [[Fire extinguisher#Dry chemical|dry chemical]] or [[carbon tetrachloride]].<ref name="sax" />

The naphtha mixtures that are distilled at a lower boiling temperature have a higher volatility and, generally speaking, a higher degree of toxicity than the higher boiling fractions.<ref name="tox-pd">{{citation | author=Stephen R Clough | contribution=Petroleum Distillates | title=Encyclopedia of Toxicology | edition=2nd | volume=3 | publisher=Elsevier | year=2005 | pages=372–375}}</ref>

Exposure to petroleum ether occurs most commonly by either inhalation or through skin contact. Petroleum ether is metabolized by the liver with a biological half-life of 46–48 h.<ref name="tox-pe" />

Inhalation overexposure causes primarily central nervous system (CNS) effects (headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and incoordination). In general, the toxicity is more pronounced with petroleum ethers containing higher concentrations of aromatic compounds. n-[[Hexane]] is known to cause axonal damage in peripheral nerves.<ref name="tox-pe" />

Skin contact can cause allergic [[contact dermatitis]].<ref name="tox-pe" />

Oral ingestion of hydrocarbons often is associated with symptoms of mucous membrane irritation, vomiting, and central nervous system depression. Cyanosis, tachycardia, and tachypnea may appear as a result of aspiration, with subsequent development of [[chemical pneumonitis]]. Other clinical findings include albuminuria, hematuria, hepatic enzyme derangement, and cardiac arrhythmias. Doses as low as 10 ml orally have been reported to be potentially fatal, whereas some patients have survived the ingestion of 60 ml of petroleum distillates. A history of coughing or choking in association with vomiting strongly suggests aspiration and hydrocarbon pneumonia. [[Hydrocarbon pneumonia]] is an acute hemorrhagic necrotizing disease that can develop within 24 h after the ingestion. Pneumonia may require several weeks for a complete resolution.<ref name="tox-ph">{{citation | author=Shayne C Gad | contribution=Petroleum Hydrocarbons | title=Encyclopedia of Toxicology | edition=2nd | volume=3 | publisher=Elsevier | year=2005 | pages=377–379}}</ref>

Intravenous administration produces fever and local tissue damage.<ref>{{citation | editor=Jerrold B. Leikin | editor2=Frank P. Paloucek | entry=Petroleum Distillates - Naphtha | title=Poisoning and Toxicology Handbook | edition=4th | publisher=Informa | year=2008 | pages=836–837}}</ref>

Petroleum-derived distillates have not been shown to be carcinogenic in humans.<ref name="tox-pd" /> Petroleum ether degrades rapidly in soil and water.<ref name="tox-pe" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Hydrocarbon solvents]]
[[Category:Petroleum products]]