130 REPORT — 1851. 



forgetting, that on the one hand, the greater part of those classed under the 

 latter head differ from the simple ethers, as much as the class of alkalies does 

 from that of neutral salts ; and that on the other, bodies of the same compo- 

 sition as the so-called compound ethers, such as the xanthic acid, consisting 

 of two atoms of sulphuret of carbon united to sulphuric ether, 2CS'--l-AeO, 

 are referred by them to a different head — the groundwork of the classification 

 being thus shifted from the composition of the body to its chemical pro- 

 perties. 



One is also at a loss to draw a line between a compound ether. . AeO-l-a; 



and sulphovinic acid iHoX 



Indeed sulphovinic acid, instead of being excluded from the class of ethers, 

 would seem to be the only known body to which the term sulphuric ether 

 can properly be applied. 



In short, if the term, compound ether, be retained at all, it should be re- 

 stricted to bodies like those produced by Williamson, in which a simple ether 

 is united with an ether radical, as the oxide of ethyl with methyl or with 

 amyl, constituting what he calls two and three carbon ethers, according to 

 the number of atoms of carbon present. 



I do not cavil with such a mode of distinguishing these several compounds ; 

 but as the same nomenclature would be applicable to the simple ethers as well 

 as to those which he describes, it would seem preferable to call them by the 

 name of compound ethers, adding the specific term indicating the number 

 of atoms of carbon present in them, as a method of distinction. 



There is likewise another cause of confusion traceable to the use of the 

 term ether for the oxides alike of methyl and amyl, as well as for those of 

 the ethyl series. 



Hence, when nitric, carbonic, acetic, benzoic ethers are spoken of, we are 

 left in doubt as to the class meant to be expressed, whether it be an acetate, 

 or other salt, of methyl, of ethyl, or of amyl. 



I therefore approve of the method of naming, already practised with 

 regard to certain of these compounds, and would extend the same to all, 

 calling them respectively — 



And in like manner 

 Chloride of methyl; 



Sulphate of oxide of methyl. 

 Benzoate of oxide of methyl. 



Acetate of oxide of methyl. 



Chloride of ethyl. 

 Bromide of ethyl. 

 Nitrate of oxide of ethyl. 

 Hyponitrate of oxide of ethyl. 

 Sulphocarburet of oxide of ethyl. 

 Acetate of oxide of ethyl. 

 And so with the rest, 



Cetone. — This term, improperly, as -I conceive, changed to Ketone, has been 

 applied to a class of bodies, formed like acetone by exposing to heat an an- 

 hydrous salt of some one of the fatty acids with lime or barytes, such as the 

 acetate, butyrate, benzoate, margarate, or stearate of these bases. 



Under such circumstances the acid parts with one atom of carbon and with 

 two of oxygen, which form together an atom of carbonic acid. This com- 

 bines with the base, whilst the remaining atoms are driven off as acetone in 

 the form of vapour, 



C* H3 03 acetic acid 

 leaving C O^ carbonic acid 



forms C Hs O' acetone. 



