1. Solvents
- Ethers are widely used as solvents for oils, fats, resins, gums, waxes, and perfumes.
- Diethyl ether and petroleum ether are especially common in laboratories and industries.
2. Anesthetics
- Diethyl ether was one of the first general anesthetics used in surgery.
- Though less common now (due to flammability and side effects), it is still used in some cases and in veterinary medicine.
3. Fuel Additives
- Some ethers (like methyl tert-butyl ether, MTBE) are used as anti-knock agents in gasoline to improve combustion and reduce engine knocking.
4. Extraction and Purification
- Ethers are used in the extraction of natural products such as alkaloids and essential oils.
- They help in separating organic compounds because they dissolve non-polar substances well.
5. Laboratory Reagents
- Ethers like tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dioxane are used as polar aprotic solvents in chemical reactions (e.g., Grignard reactions, polymerization).
6. Pharmaceuticals and Medicines
- Some ethers are used in drug formulations, including cough syrups and antiseptics.
- Phenoxy ethers are used in certain local anesthetics.
In summary: Ethers are mainly used as solvents, anesthetics, fuel additives, extraction agents, and reaction media in laboratories and industries.