62 REPORT — 1855. 



On the Action of Sulphurets on Metallic Silicates at high Temperatures. 

 By David Forbes, F.G.S. 



This communication first treated of the sulphurets of metals formed by fusion, 

 showing that very distinct compounds were thus formed generally more basic than 

 under otlier circumstances. The action of sulphurets on silicates was illustrated by a 

 series of researches, which showed that when the silicate of a weaker metal was fused 

 along wjth the siilphuret of a stronger one, or rice versa, the result was the same, — 

 not a perfect mutual decomposition, as would have been expected, but the production 

 of a double sulphur-salt of both metals. When the fusion, however, took place at lower 

 temperatures, no action was found to take place. A series of specimens illustrated the 

 occurrence of such reactions, metallurgical operations, and their chemical composi- 

 tion, &c. 



On some Organic Compounds containing Metals. 

 By Professor Frankland, Ph.D., F.R.S. 



The author has continued his researches on the above-named compounds, and in a 

 communication just presented to the Royal Society, has completed the history of zinc- 

 ethyl, which is produced by the action of zinc upon iodide of ethyl in close vessels, 

 at a temperature of about 130° C. Zincethyl is a colourless, transparent, and mobile 

 liquid, refracting light strongly and possessing a peculiar ethereal odour. Its specific 

 gravity is 1*182. It boils at 118° C, and distils unchanged in an atmosphere of car- 

 bonic acid. The specific gravity of its vapour is 4'259. It therefore consists of two 

 volumes of ethyl and one volume of zinc vapour, the three volumes being condensed 

 to two. 



Zincethyl inflames spontaneously in atmospheric air or in oxygen, burning with a 

 brilliant blue flame fringed with green. When more gradually oxidized, it yields 

 ethylate of zinc (ZnO C4 Hj O) ; with .iodine it gives iodide of ethyl and iodide of 

 zinc, and with bromium, chlorine, and sulphur the reaction is similar. Zincethyl 

 decomposes water with almost explosive violence, forming oxide of zinc and hydride 

 of ethyl. 



These remarkable reactions lead the author to anticipate, that zincethyl will prove 

 in the bands of chemists a new and valuable means of research; for it is evident from 

 its reactions that it will be capable of replacing electro-negative elements in organic 

 or inorganic compounds by ethyl ; a kind of replacement which has never yet been 

 attempted, but which the author anticipates will enable him to build up organic com- 

 pounds from inorganic ones, and ascend the homologous series of organic bodies ; by 

 replacing, for instance, the hydrogen in a methylic compound by chlorine or iodine, and 

 then acting upon this product of substitution by zincethyl or zincmethyl, the author 

 believes that compounds higher in the series will be obtained, since he regards the higher 

 homologues of methyl and its compounds as derived from the latter radical by the 

 successive replacement of hydrogen by methyl. 



The author, who is now engaged with researches in this direction, mentioned some 

 substitution products derived from nitric acid in proof of the strong probability of 

 the foregoing considerations. 



On a Mode of conserving the Alkaline Sulphates contained in Alums. 

 By Professor Frankland, Ph.D., F.R.S. 



The ultimate object of the manufacture of alums is the production oi apure salt 

 of alumina, and the alkaline sulphates contained in alums are employed only for pro- 

 ducing with sulphate of alumina a readily crystallizable salt, which can be freed from 

 impurities, and especially from oxide of iron, by repeated crystallizations. In almost 

 every case in which alum is employed in the arts, the alkaline sulphate which it con- 

 tains is utterly useless ; it is consequently wasted and thrown away. The author 

 therefore proposes to extract the alkaline sulphates from alums, thus producing pure 

 sulphate of alumina, and conserving the alkaline sulphates, which latter can then either 

 be sold as such, or employed for the preparation of a new quantity of alum. This 



