ARTICLE XI. 



( hi the Nt viral Sulphate of the Oxide of Ethyle, and the products of its decomposition by water. 

 By Charles M. Wetheri//, Doctor of Philosophy. Read July 21, 1848. 



The neutral sulphate of the oxide of Ethyle has, as is well known, been sought after for 

 years in vain ; the reason of which is, that it resembles in some of its properties the so 

 called heavy oil of wine, and therefore a closer examination of it has been neglected. 

 This body, however, is always formed when anhydrous sulphuric acid and anhydrous 

 ether (or absolute alcohol) arc brought together in the cold. The most convenient 

 method of preparing it, is as follows: — A matrass containing pure ether is surrounded 

 with a mixture of snow and salt, and by means of a retort, the neck of which is drawn 

 out and bent at a right angle, anhydrous sulphuric acid is distilled into it, slowly, from 

 Xordhausen oil of vitriol. It is not necessary to immerse the neck of the retort in the 

 ether, as the acid fumes being heavy, fall, and slowly combine with it. A syrup-like liquid 

 remains in the matrass, which is agitated with an equal volume of ether, and four times 

 the volume of water. When the liquid has become divided into two strata, the ether, 

 which contains the neutral sulphate in solution, is separated by a funnel from the other 

 stratum, which is strongly acid, and contains sulphuric, sulphurous, sethionic, and sulpho- 

 vinic acids, or if the temperature has not been kept sufficiently low, carbon, and together 

 \\ ith the above named acids, iscethionic and mcthionic acids, resulting from the decomposi- 

 tion of sethionic acid. The ether solution is next agitated with milk of lime, to remove 

 sulphurous acid, (this removes :it the same time part of the colouring matter;) washed 

 with water, filtered, and the ether distilled oil'. 



\n oil\ liquid remains in the retort, which contains a trace of ether, and is slightly 

 acid. This acid reaction, I believe, is due to the water which was dissolved in the ether, 

 and which, aided by the heal used in distilling oil' the ether, decomposes the compound. 

 For it a portion of the ether m a watch glass he suffered to evaporate spontaneously, an 

 oil remains which is perfectlj neutral, but which quickly becomes acid when warmed with 



