General anesthetics flammability

Diethyl ether [60-29-7] is one of the more important members of the ether family. It is a colorless, very volatile, highly flammable Hquid with a sweet, pungent odor and burning taste. As a commercial product it is available in several grades it is used in chemical manufacture, as a solvent, extractant, or reaction medium, and as a general anesthetic. 

Inhalation of other general anesthetics susceptible to abuse, such as ether and chloroform, appears to be limited to health professionals who have easy access to these compounds and who tend to use these dtugs in isolation. Recreational and social use of these substances has been somewhat limited by their high flammability and by frequent and intense undesirable adverse effects at moderate doses. It has been suggested that the abuse of ether or chloroform alone is a rare phenomenon (Delteil et al. 1974 Deniker et al. 1972), occurring usually in the context of dependence on othet substances, particularly alcohol (Krenz et al. 2003). 

Many ethers, including diethyl ether, are effective as general anesthetics. Because simple ethers are quite flammable, their place in medical practice has been taken by highly halogenated nonflammable ethers. Two such general anesthetic agents are isoflurane and enflurane. These compounds are isomeric isoflurane is l-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether enflurane is 2-chloro-l,l,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether. Write the structural formulas of isoflurane and enflurane. 

Cyclopropane was once used as general anesthetic because its vapors, like those of other simple alkanes and cycloalkanes, cause sleepiness and a loss of consciousness. After inhalation into the lungs, cyclopropane goes into the blood. Due to its nonpolar nature, it rapidly leaves the blood and passes through the nonpolar membranes surrounding the central nervous system, where it produces anesthesia. Cyclopropane is no longer used as an anesthetic because it is highly flammable (like ether) and can cause explosions when mixed with air. 

SAFETY PROFILE Moderately toxic by inhalation. Human systemic effects by inhalation general anesthetic, decreased pulse rate without blood pressure fall, and body temperature decrease. An experimental teratogen. Experimental reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. An asphyxiant. Does not bum but is flammable by chemical reaction and supports combustion. Moderate explosion hazard it can form an explosive mixture with air. Violent reaction with Al, B, hydrazine, LiH, LiC6Hs, PH3, Na, tungsten carbide. Also self-explodes at high temperatures. 

Halothane (CFsCHClBr) is a safe general anesthetic that has now replaced other organic anesthetics such as CHCI3, which causes liver and kidney damage, and CH3CH2OCH2CH3 (diethyl ethei), which is very flammable. 

The next era in the history of depressants also involved the search for an effective anesthetic. William Morton was a Boston dentist and medical student who was familiar with Wells s blunder, but Morton learned of another drug that he believed might be a better choice as an anesthetic ether. Ether is a highly flammable liquid that vaporizes at room temperature. When the ftimes are inhaled, they produce a state of intoxication. After conducting some initial experiments with ether, Morton asked permission to demonstrate its use as a general anesthetic. In 1846, just a year after... 

Halogenated ethers are also routinely used as general anesthetics. They are less flammable than diethyl ether and are therefore safer to store and work with. Penthrane and enthrane (trade names) are two of the more commonly used members of this family ... 

Ethers are characterized by the R—O—R functional group. Ethers are generally nonreactive but are extremely flammable. Diethyl ether was the first general anesthetic used in medical practice. It has since been replaced by penthrane and enthrane, which are less flammable. 

The chief chemical property of ethers is that, like the alkanes, they are inert and do not react with most reagents. It is this property that makes diethyl ether such a useful solvent. Like hydrocarbons, ethers are flammable, and diethyl ether is especially flammable because of its high volatility. Diethyl ether was the first general anesthetic used in surgery. For many years, it was the most important compound used as an anesthetic, but it has now been largely replaced by other compounds. 

Diethyl ether was at one time used as a surgical anesthetic. The most popular modern anesthetic is halothane (CFsCHBrCI). Unlike diethyl ether, halothane is not flammable. (See The Chemistry of.. Ethers as General Anesthetics, Section 2.7, for more information.)... 

Diethyl ether—often called ethyl ether or just ether —was used as a general anesthetic as early as 1842. Administered as a vapor, it acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, causing unconsciousness. However, its high flammability and volatility present hazards in the operating room. Ethers such as ethyl vinyl ether, divinyl ether, and methyl propyl ether have also seen use as anesthetics. All the low molecular weight ethers are potentially explosive when mixed with oxygen. 

Many of the short-chain alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes are capable of producing an anesthetic state when administered to patients. Potency generally increases as chain length increases. Because of their flammability and increased propensity to cause cardiovascular toxicity, however, these nonsubstituted hydrocarbons are not useful as anesthetic agents. 

Ethylene is a colorless, flammable gas with a faint odor that is sweet and musty. It is nontoxic and has been used as an anesthetic (but is generally no longer used for this purpose in the United States and Canada). The hazardous properties of ethylene are its flammability and its potential to cause asphyxia by displacement of air with the resultant lowering of the oxygen content below that necessary to support life. 

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