ethyl chloride

[¦eth·əl ′klȯr‚īd]

(organic chemistry)

C₂H₅Cl A colorless gas, liquefying at 12.2°C, slightly soluble in water; used as a solvent, in medicine, and as an intermediate. Also known as chloroethane.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Ethyl Chloride

(also chloroethane), C₂H₅Cl, a colorless, highly volatile liquid with an ethereal odor.

Ethyl chloride has a boiling point of 12.5°C, a melting point of – 140.85°C, and a density of 0.903 g/cm³ at 15°C. Poorly soluble in water, it is soluble in most organic solvents. It is flammable, and its explosive limits in air are 3.8 and 15.4 percent by volume.

Ethyl chloride may be produced by the reaction of ethylene with hydrogen chloride or by the thermal, catalytic, or photochemical chlorination of ethane. Ethyl chloride is used as a solvent for phosphorus, sulfur, fats, and oils and as an ethylating agent in the production of tetraethyllead and ethylcellulose. In medicine it is used as an anesthetic.

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References in periodicals archive

Research subjects were divided into two groups with administration of vapocoolant spray containing ethyl chloride for the treatment group and EMLA cream for the control group.

Comparison between Vapocoolant Spray and Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics Cream in Reducing Pain during Spinal Injections

Tooth with irreversible pulpitis was isolated with cotton rolls and cold test was performed with ethyl chloride spray.

IBUPROFEN VERSUS ACETAMINOPHEN PREMEDICATION ON SUCCESS OF INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE BLOCK IN IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS

Afraid to look bad in front of his friends, he sprayed a generous amount of ethyl chloride onto tissue paper, held it to his mouth and inhaled deeply.

can of worms

For more information about making shots less scary to patients by using a skin refrigerant like Gebauer's Ethyl Chloride, contact Gebauer customer service representatives at (800) 321-9348.

Gebauer's ethyl chloride[R] topical skin refrigerant eases anxiety for patients and parents. (New Products)

Gebauer's Ethyl Chloride is a topical skin refrigerant widely used by healthcare professionals to instantly cool and numb skin prior to injection and minor surgical procedures.

Added delivery system for skin refrigerant

According to sources in the police, the use of ethyl chloride spray - known as laughter gas - is increasing among the youths, especially teenage students.

Laughter gas is no fun, warn UAE authorities

Even those deemed not at risk for drug use have found their product of choice, in the form of ethyl chloride. It was originally intended for pain relief but is now alternatively used for intoxicating side effects, no matter how fleeting.

Youth is wasted (on the young)

Ethyl chloride is stored in glass bottles or vials with a spring-loaded valve.

Occupational health and safety in medical museums

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has issued a circular to warn about the dangers of misusing ethyl chloride spray, which has recently gained interest among adolescent students.

UAE Ministry warns against misuse of laughing gas