Ethyl Chloride

ETHYL CHLORIDE, or HYDROCHLORIC ETHER, C2H,C1, a chemical compound prepared by passing dry hydrochloric acid gas into absolute alcohol. It is a colourless liquid with a sweetish burning taste and an agreeable odour. It is extremely volatile, boiling at 12-5° C. (54-5° F.), and is therefore a gas at ordinary room temperatures; it is stored in glass tubes fitted with screwcapped nozzles. The vapour burns with a smoky green-edged flame. It is largely used in dentistry and slight surgical operations to produce local anaesthesia (q.v.), and is known by the trade-name kelene. More volatile anaesthetics such as anestile or anaesthyl and coryl are produced by mixing with methyl chloride; a mixture of ethyl and methyl chlorides with ethyl bromide is known as somnoform.