128 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



completely into acetic acid on similar treatment. As a matter of fact, 

 not a trace of uitroethane is formed. 



Decomposition of Sodic Nitroelhane by Acids. — Sodic nitroethaiie 

 can be obtained from nitroethane by treating it in absolute etheicd,! 

 scjlution with sodium wire, or by means of alcoholic sodic hydrate, 

 according to the method of V. Meyer.* It is, however, best formed 

 by addition of au alcoholic solution of sodic ethylate to an alcoholic 

 solution of nitroethane. The salt is filtered off, well washed with 

 alcohol, and dried on clay plates and over sulphuric acid in a vacuum ; 

 30 grams nitroethane gave regularly 33 grams sodium salt. A com- 

 plete analysis of the salt is not possible, because it explodes on hciuing 

 with cupric oxide. 



0.3035 gram substance gave 0.2225 gram NagSO^. 



Na 



On adding quickly an aqueous solution of sodic nitroethane (1 part 

 to 10 parts H2O) to cold dilute sulphuric acid (1 : 5), using for one 

 gram salt about 15 to 20 c.cm. of the acid, decomposition takes place 

 into nitrous oxide and acetaldehyde ; the reaction takes place with 

 much evolution of heat, the solution becomes colored green, and not 

 a trace of nitroethane is regenerated. The experiment can be carried 

 out quantitatively as follows : 15 to 20 c.cm. of dilute sulphuric acid 

 are brought into a small distilling flask which is provided with a 

 separatory funnel, and is connected on the one hand with a carbonic 

 acid generator, and on the other with a Schiff's nitrometer. Air is first 

 expelled from the apparatus by means of carbon dioxide (passed over 

 heated copper), and then the aqueous solution of sodic nitroethane 

 is quickly added by means of the separatory funnel and well washed 

 down with water. The distilling flask is then heated to boiling and 

 the nitrous oxide driven over, by a current of carbonic acid, into the 

 azotometer. The aldehyde which is formed is absorbed by the caus- 

 tic potash solution (1:2) in the nitrometer, which was saturated 

 previous to the experiment with nitrous oxide. 



0.7 gram substance gave 77 c.cm. NgO at 15° and 754 mm., corre- 

 sponding to 89.4% of the theoretical amount. 



1.0 gram substance gave 105 c.cm. N2O at 16° and 748 mm., corre- 

 sponding to 84.6% of the theoretical amount. 



* Ann. Chem (Liebi^), CLXXI. 29. 



