Petroleum ether is the petroleum fraction consisting of C₅ and C₆ hydrocarbons and boiling in the range 35‒60 ℃; commonly used as a laboratory solvent. The term ether is used only figuratively, signifying extreme lightness and volatility.IN 51630 provides for Petroleum spirit (also called here Spezialbenzine-Petrolether) which is described as a special boiling-point spirit commonly used in laboratory applications, having high volatility and low aromatics content.. Its initial boiling point is above 25 ℃, its final boiling point up to 80 ℃.