Final answer:
Diethyl ether must be kept away from ignition sources due to its high flammability, which can lead to fire or explosion risks. Its use in medicine has been phased out in favor of less flammable anesthetics like halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is important to keep diethyl ether away from ignition sources because it is highly flammable. Diethyl ether has been used as an anesthetic due to the wide margin between its effective dose and lethal dose. However, its volatility and flammability pose risks of fire or explosion, especially in settings like operating rooms. Newer inhalant anesthetics, such as halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane, which contain fluorine, are less flammable and have replaced diethyl ether in medical applications.
In addition to being used as an anesthetic, diethyl ether is used as a solvent for various substances because of its ability to dissolve gums, fats, waxes, and resins. However, when considering its use, the flammability remains a significant concern, necessitating precautionary measures to avoid exposure to sparks, flames, or other ignition sources.