212 



ethyl sulphonic acid, isethionic acid, ethionic acid, butyl sulplionic acid 

 and the ethyl esters of these acids. 



Experimental. 

 Outline. 

 The experimental work consisted of the preparation of ether in 

 the usual way from ordinary alcohol and strong sulphuric acid, main- 

 taining as nearly as practicable a constant temperature of 140°, as 

 long as ether resulted from introducing fresh alcohol. The distillate 

 and residue were then examined quantitatively for by-products con- 

 taining sulphur, which were determined as of three classes: sulphurous 

 acid and sulphites, sulphuric acid and sulphates, and sulphonic acids 

 and sulphonates; no distinction was made between the different pos- 

 sible substances within any class, as between the acid and its esters, 

 except in the case of sulphuric acid and its esters. 



Sulphuric Acid Used. 



Twenty-five cubic centimeters of commercial concentrated acid were 

 used, so-called 66' Baume or 1.84 sp. gravity. Unfortunately an ac- 

 curate determination of its concentration was not made, but as.suming 

 that the material used was in accordance with its specification it con- 

 tained about 95 per cent H^SOi, and the weight of pure acid used was 

 4.3.7 grams. This figure agrees fairly well with the total sulphur found 

 in the products, which was equivalent to 45.25 grams of sulphuric acid. 

 The work is being repeated with accurate observations. 



In the percentages given below reference is made to the total sul- 

 phur found by direct analysis of the products, and not this 43.7 grams 

 of sulphuric acid. 



Ether Preparation. 



The apparatus included a 250 cc. distilling flask provided with a 

 thermometer dipping into the liquid, and a dropping funnel delivering 

 alcohol just above the surface and bent away from the thermometer; 

 the flask was attached to a condenser, connected with a 2% liter receiv- 

 ing bottle, followed by two wash-bottles containing bromine water, the 

 entrance tube of each reaching to the bottom, to catch any possible 

 sulphur dioxide escaping from the receiving bottle. Each bottle was 

 provided with a safety tube reaching nearly to the bottom, which in 



