> chemistry > solvants-extractions > diethyl-ether > making-diethyl-ether-nilered

Making Diethyl Ether

NileRed - 2014-11-28

Warning: Ether is extremely flammable. This must only be carried out in an extremely well ventilated area.

In this video we make diethyl ether from ethanol and sulfuric acid. I adapted by procedure from youtube user myst32YT. Here is a link to his ether synthesis video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytdO3YzXNkQ

I also used this as a resource: http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=9747

The final product likely still has a little bit of a water in it. I would suggest adding more drying agent or molecular sieves if you need it to be anhydrous. 

Nile talks about lab safety:  https://youtu.be/ftACSEJ6DZA

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Cliff Thornton - 2020-06-10

Before the surgery, the anesthesiologist offered to knock me out with gas or a boat paddle...
It was an ether/oar situation.

Edward Science Innovations - 2021-02-26

ether is no longer used as it is fairly toxic and many people have died from inhaling too much

tyler roberts - 2021-02-26

@Edward Science Innovations way to miss the joke, genius

Ali David - 2021-03-14

Not sure if anyone gives a damn but I just hacked my girl friends Instagram password by using Instaportal. Just google for it xD

Leo Aarav - 2021-03-14

@Ali David Trying it out now. Looks to be working :)

tyler roberts - 2021-03-14

@Ali David report for spam

TheBackyardScientist - 2014-11-29

Hey nile, what kind of camera do you use?

NileRed - 2014-11-29

I am amateur photographer so i had the equipment alreadyq. Canon 6D with either 17-40mm f4l lens or 24-70mm f2.8.

Avik Banerjee - 2015-09-28

omg i had the same question!!! thank u so much for answering....u have a fantastic picture quality and depth...i love u r channel...it helps me a lot while i am studying.... :)

Bidoni Bidona - 2020-01-28

@NileRed Hey Nile ! I've been performing this prep with success a few times, however vapours keep condensing in the pressure equalizing arm, making the drip rate somewhat unpredictable. May I ask, did you already encounter this problem, and do you have a workaround ? I can't seem to get my head on one, nor can I find an answer on the Internet... Thx and keep up your amazing work

Flippa The Shippa - 2019-02-18

Alright get your rags ready and your lungs

smt - 2020-01-12

Hehe

SaucelessBones - 2021-02-14

can you use it to extract dmt ? or do i need petroleum ether

J. S. - 2015-12-11

“The only thing that really worried me was the ether. There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge. And I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff pretty soon. Probably at the next gas station.”

Elektro Bear - 2021-01-02

@Luceat Lux no they resemble the DMT molecule, almost all hallucinogens have a DMT molecule as its base.

Luceat Lux - 2021-01-02

@Elektro Bear wow, really? i mean, i knew they were all associated with seratonin receptor activity. but i didn't know they all contained a base dmt molecule. there's no relationship between the structure of adrenaline/epinephrine and psychadelics tho? i wonder why my brain remembered some connection there.

Elektro Bear - 2021-01-02

@Luceat Lux no but I think there's an affinity between dopamine and epinephrine or norepinephrine. Not sure might be wort looking into. But if you want the part of the body that might produce something akin to adrenochrome check out the "locus cerulium"

Don Kynos - 2021-01-11

Damn beat me to it by five years

Don Kynos - 2021-01-11

@Elektro Bear I mean there are some phenylethylamines and substituted amphetamines with psychedelic properties such as DOI, DOM, and BROMO Dragon Fly. Amphetamine and other phenylethylamines are similar in structure to adrenaline/norepinephrine/epinephrine. They're also similar in structure to dopamine, as dopamine itself is an epinephrine/norepinephrine precursor. dopamine, epinephrine(adrenaline), amphetamine, norepinephrine, mescaline, DOM, and DOI infact all share a phenylethylamine base, making them all part of the class "substituted phenylethylamines".
For more information on substituted phenylethylamines :
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substituted_phenethylamine

King Burrito - 2017-09-10

Definition of Ether: The shit that make your soul burn slow

Johnathan Rendon - 2018-08-30

Imagine being a scientist in the old days having to make this with a bunsen burner....

Horse Man - 2020-04-03

@Drone Motion Lab yes I'm sure boat trips are only going to become closer and closer to the average crack head's price range

DarkDragon - 2020-04-06

@Drone Motion Lab These guys are assholes, don't let them bring you down. You keep doing you 👍

Drone Motion Lab - 2020-04-06

DarkDragon793 thx buddy, i am used to this kinda attitude from negative people, but sometimes on my 'bad hair days' i do take em bit more serious and reply to them. im sure in my stuff, these ppl usually just bored or jealous =) take care y'all

R L Guerrero - 2020-04-22

@Drone Motion Lab Start your channel

Central Intelligence Agency - 2020-06-23

Where there's a will, there's a way.
Just heat something like lead pellets or oil directly in an outside fireplace and carry them in. Keep all windows and doors open so no fumes accumulate.

Flavio Chavez - 2019-06-17

Now I can finally go to Vegas with my Apple red convertible, Samoan attorney, and a suitcase full of drugs (once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far you can) .

Crack - 2019-07-29

Flavio Chavez that’s a dank book I’m half way through Rn

Flavio Chavez - 2019-07-29

Crack loved it, the movie too!

Crack - 2019-07-29

@Flavio Chavez i actually just drew a really shitty portrait of hunter

Mark Green - 2020-04-18

I've sniffed on a bottle of ether, and I'm not sure what to think of it. It's a wierd feeling, not quite like alcohol but similar, and honestly I don't really like it. To each his own I suppose. If I'm going to get high out of my gourd, I prefer psychedelics myself...

VK's ASDgaming - 2020-06-24

It must be Chicano lawyer. Also remember that it (devil/diethyl ether) makes you behave like the village drunkard in some early Irish novel. Total loss of all basic motor skills. Blurred vision, no balance, numb tongue. The mind recoils in horror, unable to communicate with the spinal column. Which is interesting because you can actually watch yourself behaving in this terrible way, but you can't control it.

Rusty Shackleford - 2015-08-14

You should distill automotive gasoline into various fractions! Then examine the properties of said fractions. I think that would be interesting.

Colin Ries - 2017-02-17

Ilir Kumi I'm no expert on gasoline composition, but I think the boiling points are so close to each other that it'd be very difficult to separate it. I'd say that's even the main reason why there are even different hydrocarbons in it (except of course for additives to raise the octane number).

Somotaw - 2017-10-31

I think thats why they run super high reflux columns in refineries, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflux#/media/File:Colonne_distillazione.jpg

Michael F - 2018-02-13

It wouldn't be all alkanes, either. Gasoline contains many aromatics and olefins, as well. Not to mention detergents, anti knock compounds, oxygenates, etc.

samuel w - 2020-05-12

Anonymous Anonymous beat me to it

fla playa - 2020-05-25

I've done it just recently over open flame. First fraction came over almost immediately at 90°F (pentanes). Last at 250°F (nonanes). And yes I had one very small fire. Dangerous.

Angelia Welch - 2016-03-12

That apparatus is beautiful.

This is not my final form - 2017-04-04

Thomas C Bad taste in women

Jan Gisgand - 2017-05-08

This is not my final form Yeah ikr 😁😁😁

sean rh - 2018-06-01

Thats what my Girlfriend always says too.

Non Ya - 2019-11-24

@Wei Zhao wise words you know who also spoke some wise words. Jesus Christ.

Crystal Cleared - 2020-05-17

@Wei Zhao simp

C F - 2019-06-21

Yo what bong is that bro

Luke Mitchell - 2020-08-13

Ether bong

Cody Grimes - 2020-10-26

Smh

Fluorescent Black - 2020-04-04

He must have got pretty bent, that video ended very abruptly.

Mia Mama - 2018-01-02

I like it how the video picture says diehtyl ether

nevermorefarm - 2017-06-13

I worked in a health sciences lab for years and...I am in awe of your level of understanding, and quite happy to see your impeccably clean and well laid out work area. I'm not brave enough to try, but this was very informative!

NileRed - 2017-06-15

thanks! Glad you like the videos

Paul Grosse - 2017-09-25

Remember that you need to a a few ppm of pyrogallol or hydroquinone to the finished ether to prevent peroxide build-up.

AverageDoggo - 2020-03-16

" i can't wait to fucking huff all of this "
-NileSwed

Stev s - 2016-11-08

Beautifully clean glassware, what tips do you have to keep your glassware in such pristine condition?

it's moonpie - 2017-06-02

He probably uses piranha solution, and some good rinses with water after.

Bulacan Etcetera! - 2018-02-18

Stev s after washing with dishwashing liquid soap and water, rinse with ethanol and you will get super clean lab glassware

ChaJang - 2018-10-15

Sonicators, boyyo

Norman Avery - 2019-03-13

This video had 299 comments. It was driving me crazy so... Here's comment 300.

BruceWayne - 2019-06-28

now it has 319

TheInfernoKing 123 - 2020-07-06

Im the 400th

DFliyerz - 2015-02-25

I seeee you!

Natural Science - 2015-04-03

Wow!! Great explanation and video quality! Thank you so much!
subscribed

Oscar Garcia - 2020-03-19

How this dude so smart xD
Sweet glass tho ^-^

Chem1456 - 2015-04-27

where did you get your thermometer adapters?

Shanna McCarley - 2016-02-10

So I saw your comment on a video about Letchworth Village and what pert did the tunnels start? I know they end in the power plant. But I couldn't find that either

Knolltop Farms - 2016-05-17

I gotta say that this is a very cool channel, and I truly enjoy your demonstrations and narration of processes. Thank you very much...Aloha, the Farmer.

Night Man - 2018-10-01

Ah, Devil Ether.

E2qNX8btraQ3zRD6J7fc - 2014-11-28

Is that you, Dr. N. Butyl Lithium? :)

Safety Lucas - 2014-11-28

haha

Spooky Wizard - 2018-11-16

No nurdrage is a different guy

BackYard Science 2000 - 2019-05-21

Dr. N. Butyl Lithium has bigger and hairier hands. Lol

Brandon Chapman - 2020-01-03

Haahahhaa I get it!!

Ben Suslow - 2014-12-16

Great videos! You're sincerely the best chemist I've come across on YouTube. Where did you get those thermometer inlet adapters?

NileRed - 2014-12-16

Thanks! Also, I am actually not sure. I think I bought them off Ebay a long time ago.

Daniel Mallett - 2015-10-07

could you also use alumina catalysts using the same method?

RatKing1981 - 2020-08-15

3:44 you should have been wearing gloves Incase of a splash

Rockin BoBokkin - 2017-02-06

Great videos, good presentations, excellent explanations, fun but still serious. 👍

Jonathan Hoffman - 2018-03-18

Extremely well made documentary! Thanks a lot!

Jonathan Hoffman - 2015-06-10

You do some bad ass experiments man!  I've been having a good old time geeking out and learning from them!

NileRed - 2015-06-10

Thanks!

Northern Sailor - 2015-08-20

@Nile Red So in the movie 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', the main characters huffed this stuff. It looks pretty dangerous to me, so I don't see how people can get off on this. How dangerous is it?

NileRed - 2015-08-21

Its pretty potent. The danger depends on mode of entry, i.e. huffing vs drinking

Shazzkid - 2020-06-14

Spelling mistake in thumbnail "Diehtyl"

Zachary Troxell - 2019-11-28

And where can I find these ingredients ?

Yiğit Alp Alakoç - 2020-03-24

Thanks nile, im no more a virgin now.

Alessandro Stagno - 2014-11-29

Your videos are always the best!!!

Tommy gun - 2016-06-13

can u show nicotine extraction please

Cory Buckles - 2015-09-06

Would this reaction work with acetic acid in place of the sulfuric?

mmmhorsesteaks - 2015-09-19

+Cory Buckles No, that would probably produce ethyl acetate, also a solvent but significantly less volatile. It's an ester, with a vaguely fruity smell you may recognize from acetone-free nail polish removers. You really need that strong acid to dehydrate alcohols.

TimeMaster - 2018-07-02

50 ml of product before final distillation......
Try again tomorrow. 😂😂😂😂😂

Brentodoesbeauty - 2017-08-12

Ether looks like a bird 🐦 ^o^

firmware21 - 2015-08-16

I always like to watch your videos as it gives me a good vision of what I should expect to deal with in the event of reproducing one of theses experiments. I tried this one, but I decided to destroy the ether and wash my glassware before any peroxide formed (guess I wanted to be safe). I found however rather difficult to wash the glassware correctly without inhaling a bit of the damn solvant. Did you use a gas mask to do this ?

blue - 2020-05-02

thanks you nile, it smells really good!!!!!! :))))))))))))))

Shaggy Dimebags - 2019-06-16

Devil's Ether

Bernd - 2020-04-13

Chemistry - you R-O-R' get it or you don't.

insertnamehere - 2020-04-07

Man I really should of paid more attention to chemistry in high school

julio campos - 2017-10-18

muy interesante, saludos disculpe para obtener un litro de eter con cuanto de H2SO4 y etanol ? muchas gracias

Mark Arca - 2020-03-22

Ether is the first anesthetic used in a surgical operation.
There are different ether compounds like:
Ethyl ether
Diethyl ether
Vinyl ether
Divinyl ether

Alex Anzivino - 2020-12-28

can you use this recreationally

Emmanuel A. Gutierrez Constantino - 2018-05-15

Hi Nile Red!
It is possible to make the same procedure with sodium bisulfate instead of the sulfuric acid?

Mysterious - 2020-05-13

I’m the 384th comment. I’m also smoked some weed

Edward Vassell - 2017-09-06

isopropyl ether?