248 Dr. E. Frankland on a New Series of 



This result is confirmed by the action of alcohol in analysis 

 No. I., and also by the determination of the specific gravity of 

 the mixed gases, which agrees very closely with that deduced 

 from the above numbers, as is seen from the following com- 

 parison : — 



Methyle . . . 5020 x 1*0365 = 52-0323 

 Hydride of methyle 49-80 x -5528 = 27-5294 



100-00 795617 ^ -795617 



100 

 Specific gravity found by experiment . . = '79598 



The origin of the hydride of methyle in the above gaseous 

 mixture is readily perceived, when the volatility of zincmethylium 

 and the method of collecting the gas are taken into considera- 

 tion ; on opening the decomposition-tube beneath water, a copious 

 effervescence was observed wherever the evolved gas came in 

 contact with water ; and as this effervescence was accompanied 

 by the formation of a flocculent precipitate of oxide of zinc, it 

 could only be caused by the presence of the vapour of zincme- 

 thyhum, which, on coming in contact with water, would be 

 instantaneously decomposed into oxide of zinc and hydride of 

 methyle. 



I have not yet endeavoured to procure the methyle free from 

 admixture with hydride of methyle, but have no doubt that, by 

 collecting the gas as evolved from the decomposition-tube over 

 mercury, and absorbing the zincmethyhum vapour by dry iodine, 

 the methyle would be left in a state of purity. It perfectly 

 resembles in its properties, chemical and physical, the methyle 

 procured by Kolbe from the electrolysis of acetic acid*. 



Examination of the Gas 0. — This gas, evolved by the action 

 of water upon the solid and liquid products of the decomposition 

 of iodide of methyle by zinc, proved, as might have been antici- 

 pated, to be pure hydride of methyle, derived from the decom- 

 position of the zincmethyhum with which the crystalline residue 

 of iodide of zinc was saturated . Its eudiometrical analysis yielded 

 the following results : — 



I. In Short Eudiometer. 



Difference Corrected vol. 



Observed of mercury at 0° C . and 1 



volume. Temp. level. Barom. metre press. 



^IdSr^^'.'"-"*}^^^'^ 18-6C. 1-6 750-2 118-05 



Volume after action !,-„- -.q- „_ _ .„ „ ,,00- 



offamingSO«(<iry)/^69-5 18-7 8-7 749-8 118-35 



* Journal of the Chemical Society, vol. ii. p. 173. 



