eetteri

Eetteri, the Finnish word for ether, primarily refers to a class of organic compounds in which an oxygen atom bridges two carbon-containing groups, giving the functional group R–O–R′. Ethers are typically colorless liquids or gases with low to moderate boiling points, and their properties vary with substituents. They are widely used as solvents in chemical synthesis because they stabilize reactive intermediates and dissolve a broad range of organic substances. The best-known example is diethyl ether, historically used as an anesthetic and now mainly employed as a laboratory solvent; other common examples include dimethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Ethers are generally immiscible or only partially miscible with water and are highly flammable. They can form unstable peroxides upon storage in air, so proper storage and stabilizers are important.

Preparation of ethers typically involves acid-catalyzed dehydration of alcohols (for example, ethanol to make diethyl ether) or the Williamson ether synthesis, which forms asymmetrically substituted ethers from alkyl halides and alkoxides. Safety considerations are important: ethers are flammable and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system; they should be kept away from ignition sources and stored under appropriate conditions to prevent peroxide formation.

In physics and historical literature, the term eetteri also refers to the aether (luminiferous ether), a once-hypothesized medium for light propagation. That concept was abandoned with the development of relativity, though the term persists in historical discussions and some fiction.