X-Message-Number: 7706 From: "Gerald Olschewski" <> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 10:04:12 +100 Subject: #7698 - Ether Mike Darwin wrote, that ether forms unstable explosive peroxides with water. As far as I know ether forms only peroxides under the influence of air and light, thus forming radicals, which in the end leads to considerable formation of hydroperoxides, that really make ether dangerous to handle, especially older and improperly stored charges. To prevent formation of these hydroperoxides it is advisable to store it in brown flasks, or best under nitrogen. If this isn't possible, storing it over some solid sodium-hydroxide will bind these hydroperoxides pretty well, thus reducing the risk of explosions. To check wheter or not a sample contains hydro- peroxides you may use commercially available iodide-starch-paper. Only some information... Gerald Olschewski Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7706