AND THE PRODUCTS OF ITS DECOMPOSITION BY WATER. I v l 



ing heavy oil of wine; the hydrated acid unites with the ether to form bisulphale of the 

 oxide ofethyle, and by the farther action of the anhydrous sulphuric arid, the same reac- 

 tion takes place as in the case of alcohol. 



Not the slightest trace, however, ofheavj oil of wme i< to be detected in the substance 

 resulting from the action of anhydrous sulphuric acid upon ether and alcohol. Portions 

 of this oil, obtained from ether and from alcohol, were decomposed by water, distilled, and 

 the distillate suffered to stand several days over chloride of calcium ; the experiment in the 

 case of ether was repeated several times, but not the slightest indication of a light oil of 

 wine was to be detected. 



The following may possibly be the reaction which takes place. The anhydrous sul- 

 phuric acid partly unites with the o.xide ofethyle to form the neutral compound, (C, IF-, O 

 SO.) and [tartly decomposes the ether, taking from it water to form Regnault's com- 

 pound (lSO ;t C, II,,) which unites with one equivalent of water to form rcthionic acid, (1 S 

 (> ; C. II.-.O.) Another portion of the sulphuric acid takes water and unites with ether 

 to form sulphovinic acid. 



In the case of alcohol; part of the sulphuric acid takes water from the alcohol to form 

 hydrated acid, which, with another portion of alcohol, forms hydrated sulphovinic acid; 

 the ether thus set free, partly combines with the sulphuric acid to the neutral sulphate; 

 partly is decomposed, as in the case of ether, to ajthionic acid. 



The decomposition products of the heavy oil of wine, by water are sulphovinic acid, 

 and a carburetted hydrogen, the so called light oil of wine. The decomposition products 

 of sulphate of ether by water, are materially different, being iscethionic and sulphovinic 

 acids, with mcthionic acid in small quantity, evidently an after product. 



4 equivalents of the neutral sulphate, with 3 eq. water, give 1 eq. iscethionic acid, 1 eq. 

 sulphovinic acid, and 2 eq. alcohol, — thus 



I SO, C.II 0)+l IIO = 2 SO,, 0,11,0,4-2 SO,, C.H.O, HO+2(C,HO, HO.) 



According to Regnault, the corresponding neutral sulphate in the methylic series, is 

 formed in a similar manner, by the action of anhydrous sulphuric acid upon methylic 

 ether. I performed the above experiments while under the instruction of Professor Licbig, 

 to whom I express my kindest thanks. 



Dr. Ciiari.es \I. Wktiierill. 



Giesseu, April 15, 1848. 



Via . \. — 40 



