370 ODOEOGEAPHIA. 



and submitted to dry distillation. The distillate is purified as in 

 the first method (SeruUas)." 



Fehling's " Xeues Handworterhuch der Chemie " band i., p. 100, 

 also contains a notice of heavy oil of wine, as follows : — Ethyl- 

 sulphate of Etherol ; Sulphate of Etherin, "Heavy oil of wine 

 or Sulphovinate of wine oil." Perhaps only a mixture of 

 hydrocarbons with ethyl sulphate. Its formula is possibly 

 (C^ Hi 8 So 0-)n. Examined by Hennel, Serullas, Marchand, and 

 Liebig. It is produced in the manufacture of ether, towards the 

 end of the process, when sulphurous acid and ethylene are also 

 formed; furthermore, by the dry distillation of salts of ethyl 

 sulphuric acid, especially the basic lead salt alone, or the 

 potassium salt with freshly burned lime. The substance, purified 

 by washing with water and drying in a vacuum over sulphuric 

 acid, is a colourless viscid oil, having an aromatic odour and a 

 cooling taste. Its sp. gr. is I'lSo. At a high temperature it 

 volatilises without decomposition and is readily soluble in alcohol 

 and in ether. Potassium decomposes it only on heating. When 

 heated with water it is decomposed into a light oil, etherol, and 

 ethyl-sulphuric acid (possibly also isaethionic acid). 



" Etherol, oil of wine, Light or Sweet oil of wine, CnH^r., con- 

 sists, after the so-called etherin has been separated in a crystalline 

 form by cold, of a yellowish, thick oil. Its sp. gr. is 0-921, boiling 

 point 280^ C. and it crystallises at — 25^ 0. It is readily soluble 

 in ether, less soluble in abohol, and insoluble in water. With 

 sulphuric anhydride it appears to afford isaethionic acid. Whether 

 the so-called ' Sweet, or Light oil of wine ' which is produced by the 

 manufacture of ether on a large scale, is identical with etherol, 

 ean scarcely be stated with certainty." 



In Watts' Dictionary of Chemistry, ii., p. 507, the following 

 notice of this subject occurs : — " When heavy oil of wine, the body 

 which sometimes occurs among the residues of the preparation of 

 ether, is warmed with water, a light oily liquid rises to the surface, 

 which is a mixture of two substances, both polymeric with 

 ethylene, viz., etherin and etherol. On decanting this liquid and 

 leaving it at rest, the etherin crystallises out while the etherol 

 remains liquid. The etherin may be freed from etherol by 

 filtration and pressure between paper, and crystallised from alcohol 

 or ether. Etherin forms transparent, colourless, shining prisms, 



