Constitution of the Alcohols. 91 



the galvanic current, and upon the transformation of cyanide of 

 methyle into acetic acid, as well as those so beautifully verifying 

 the former, made by Dumas, Malaguti and Leblanc*, upon the 

 reconversion of acetate of ammonia into cyanide of methyle, 

 facts certainly meriting a careful consideration in the establish- 

 ment of a new hypothesis. I have at least seen no reference to 

 them in the foregoing papers, or any indication as to how they 

 are to be interpreted without halving the equivalent of potash, 

 and of course all other equivalents when needful, — so sweeping 

 a change that few probably would be prepared to subscribe to it 

 without much more conclusive reasons than we have^at present. 

 Williamson must undoubtedly admit that ' othyle ' is a purely 

 hypothetical body, for whose existence in acetic acid no decisive 

 fact can be adduced ; neither will he deny that there are many 

 of a very conclusive nature to support the view that it contains 



the radical methyle C 2 H 3 . 



To show, however, the relation of the othyle theory to the 

 before-named important facts, and convey the conviction that it 

 is no longer fairly tenable, it will perhaps be sufficient to com- 

 pare the equations by which the transformations are represented 

 according to each view. It will doubtless be objected, that the 

 simplicity of a formula representing a chemical change is by no 

 means the test of its truth ; where, however, it is in harmony 

 with the majority of important facts, it will have the preference. 



Acetate of potash. Methyle. 



KO . (C 2 H 3 j~C 2 ,0 3 + = C 2 H 3 + KO . CO 2 + CO 2 (Kolbe) . 

 Acetate of potash. Methyle. 



2 (° 2 ^ k } °) + ° = 2(Ch8) + k 2 . CO 3 + CO 2 (Williamson) . 

 Cyanide of methyle. Acetate of potash. 



(C 2 H 3 ).C 2 N + KO . HO + 2HO = KO . (C 2 IFjC^O^ + rPN 



(Kolbe and Frankland). 

 Cyanide of methyle. Acetate of potash. 



2((C h 3 ) . C n) + k 2 .h 2 + 2h 2 = t0 h * ° i O) + 2(h 3 n) 



(Williamson). 

 Acetate of ammonium-oxide. Cyanide of methyle. 



( • i ( ■ i 



H 4 N.O.(C 2 H 3 rC 2 ,0 3 + xP0 5 =(C 2 H 3 ).C 2 N + 4HO+xP0 5 



(Kolbe). 

 * Comptes Rendus, vol. xxv. p. 383. 



