•430 Of the Action of Fegeiahle Acids on Alcohol. 



this substance is ^mother combination analogous to the pre- 

 cedino ; but it is most remarkable for its syrupy consist- 

 ence,' and the property which it has of rendering solu- 

 ble in the most concentrated alcohol, sulphate of potash, 

 whiih alone is insoKible in weak alcohol. Perhaps it was 

 the peculiarity which it has of not ap'pcaring oily, as the 

 other combinations of this kind do, to the sulphate of 

 potash. 



FTaving concluded the experiments on the benzoic, oxa- 

 lic, malic, citric, gallic, and tartaric acids, those only on 

 the acetic remain to be made. I adliered to these experi- 

 meiiis so much the more, as I concluded thai, by varyini;- 

 ihem, lieht woidd be thrown on the true manner of the 

 action of the mineral acids in producing the new combin;*- 

 tions wc are considering. In all these experiments I have 

 nsed alcohol of the specific gravity of 800 (temperature 10 

 degrees of the centigrade thermometer) and the acetic acid 

 capable of ervstallization at 0. 



Experiment T. — I subjected a mixture of 30 grammes of 

 alcohol and 20 of acelic acid to one distillation only : a 

 pretty intense heat was necessary to boil the liquor, and 

 t«ome grammes of acelic ether were with difficulty formed. 



Experiment U. — 1 repeated the preceding experiment, 

 but with the addition of 5 grammes of sulphuric acid to the' 

 mixture of alcohol and acetic acid; ]Q grammes of acetic 

 acid disappeared, ether was formed with singular facility, 

 and ahtu>st without any heat, I obtained 40 grammes. It 

 follows then that the preceding process is an excellent one 

 for the manufacture of acetic ether, and far superior to that 

 in present use, both because a greater quantity of ether \f- 

 produced, and because many distillations are not requisite 

 to procure it. The rectification of it is always easy, nothing 

 more being necessary than to add a little potash and to de- 

 cant, for the acetate of potash formed is collected at the- 

 botto\n of the vessel. 



Besides, an excellent ether may be oeconomicallv made, 

 by adding to three parts of acetate of potash and two of 

 strongly concentrated alcohol, two parts of themost highlv 

 concentrated sulphuric acid ; the mixture is to be introduced 

 into a tubulated retort, and to be distilled to perfect dryness ; 

 ■ then the product is to be mixed with one-fifth of its weight 

 , of the strongest sulphuric acid, and by a skilful distillation 

 as much ether may he procured as there was alcohol em- 

 ployed. Any other acetate, and particularly that of lead, may 

 iie-subslituled ibr the acetate of potash: but theait is ne- 

 cessary 



