Give a specific example of a solvent that could be used in the presence of the very powerful reducing agent LiAlH4 to reduce benzil without the fire hazard that would exist with ethanol?

diethyl ether

Explanation:

Lithium aluminum hydride reacts violently with water to form hydrogen gas, which may burn explosively because of the heat generated in the reaction. Therefore, lithium aluminum hydride can only be used in aprotic solvents such as diethyl ether.

An aprotic solvent is a solvent that has no O-H or N-H bonds. The "a" means "without", and "protic" refers to protons or hydrogen atoms.