Properties of Diethyl Ether (C4H10O)
Diethyl ether, commonly known as ether, is a volatile and highly flammable organic compound with the chemical formula C4H10O. It is a colorless liquid that has a sweet, pungent odor. Diethyl ether was historically used as an anesthetic, but its use for this purpose has largely been replaced by safer alternatives.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of diethyl ether properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).
Click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.
| Physical Properties | Metric |
|---|---|
| Molar Mass | 74.12 g/mol |
| Density | 713 kg/m3 |
| Dynamic Viscosity (25°C) | 0.225 mPa·s |
| Surface Tension | 17.1 mN/m |
| Thermal Properties | Metric |
| Melting Point | -116.3 °C |
| Boiling Point | 34.6 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.1369 W/m·K |
| Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) | 2327 J/kg·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αV) | 1.65×10-3 1/°C |
| Vapor Pressure | 58.6 kPa |
| Critical Constants | Metric |
| Critical Temperature (Tc) | 194 °C |
| Critical Pressure (Pc) | 3.64 MPa |
| Critical Molar Volume (Vc) | 280 cm3/mol |
| Electrical Properties | Metric |
| Relative Permittivity (εr) | 4.2666 |
| Optical Properties | Metric |
| Refractive Index (589 nm) | 1.353 |
| Hazardous Data | Metric |
| Flash Point | -45 °C |
| Autoignition Temperature | 160 °C |
| Lower Flammability Limit | 1.9% |
| Upper Flammability Limit | 36% |
| NFPA Rating (Health) | 1 |
| NFPA Rating (Fire) | 4 |
| NFPA Rating (Reactivity) | 1 |
Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
Related Pages
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) Yaws, Carl L. The Yaws Handbook of Physical Properties for Hydrocarbons and Chemicals. Netherlands: Elsevier Science, 2015. 4) Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials, 14th Edition. United States: National Fire Protection Association, 2010.