[ 370 J 



LI I. On the Perchlorate of the Oxide of JEthule, or Perchloric 

 JEther. By Clark Hare, and Martin H. Boye*. 



THE energetic properties of perchloric acid, and its stabi- 

 lity, compared with the other compounds of chlorine with 

 oxygen, led us to the belief that this acid might be combined 

 with the substance which performs the part of a base in that 

 class of organic salts which are generally designated by the 

 name of cethers, and for which Berzelius, in consequence of 

 his theoretical views, has adopted the name of oxide of aethule. 

 For this purpose, a concentrated solution of perchlorate and 

 sulphovinate of barytes, in equivalent proportions, was sub- 

 jected to distillation. The sulphovinate of barytes may be 

 considered as a double sulphate of barytes and the oxide of 

 aethule; and we anticipated that, when heat was applied, a 

 double decomposition would take place between the latter and 

 the perchlorate of barytes. So long as the salts remained in 

 solution no reaction occurred; but as soon as they became 

 solid, in consequence of the distillation of the water, a reci- 

 procal decomposition ensued, and a sweet sethereal liquid di- 

 stilled into the receiver. This liquid is the perchlorate of the 

 oxide qfathule. 



As this substance is extremely explosive, in order to pre- 

 pare it with safety it is necessary to operate on small quan- 

 tities. We have employed from seventy to ninety grains of 

 crystallized sulphovinate of barytes, with an equivalent pro- 

 portion of perchlorate of barytes t; but we would recommend, 

 especially on the first performance of the experiment, the 

 employment of considerably smaller quantities. The salts 

 should be intimately mixed in a mortar, and placed in a small 

 retort attached to a refrigerator containing ice, atsd a receiver 

 similarly cooled. The retort is to be heated in an oil-bath, 

 in which a thermometer is suspended, so as to indicate the 

 temperature. A wooden screen, furnished with openings co- 

 vered with thick plate-glass at such intervals as to afford a full 

 view of the different parts of the apparatus, should be erected 

 in front of it, and strings passed round the screen and at- 



* From the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, vol. viii.; 

 having been read before the Society, December 4th, ] 840. 



T The amount of barytes in the perchlorate should be ascertained by an 

 experiment, as it retains water with great tenacity. It may be worth while 

 to mention, that the perchlorate of potassa cannot be substituted for the 

 perchlorate of barytes, since the sulphovinate is decomposed without acting 

 on it. We were equally unsuccessful in an attempt to procure the aether 

 by the distillation of perchlorate of barytes and concentrated sulphovinic 

 acid. 



