Ether prevents the action potential, by opening potassium ion pores which allow the escape of potassium from the neurons, which results in hyper-polarized of the neuron, thus preventing the action potential from occurring. Ether is an organic functional group consisting of a disubstituted oxygen, or an oxygen atom bonded to 2 carbon atoms. Lock anesthetics block nerve conduction by preventing the increase in membrane permeability to sodium ions that normally leads to a nerve impulse.