192 ‘Miscellanies. 
MISCELLANIES. 
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
1. Abstracts of the Researches of European Chemists; prepared for 
this Journal by J. Lawrence Smirn, M. D. of Charleston, S.C. 
-. Silicic Ether, by M. Esziman, (Comp. Rend. Aug. 1844, p. 399. em 
If absolute alcohol be added with precaution to chloride of silicon, a vio- 
lent action takes place, with an abundant escape of hydrochloric acid 
as, and a considerable diminution of temperature ; when the alcohol 
added exceeds by a little the quantity of chloride used, the escape of gas 
ceases, and the temperature of the liquid rises. If the mixture be dis- 
tilled, there passes over first a small quantity of hydrochloric ether, and 
then the greater part of the liquid distills between 320° and 338° Fah.; 
this is laid aside, and the distillation peiaates at 572° Fah. There 
remains in the retort a mere trace of silic 
The first product, when rectified, has a fixed point of ebullition between 
323° and 325° Fah., a penetrating ethereal odor, strong peppery taste, 
and a density of 0°932; it is insoluble in water, but by long contact with 
it is slowly decomposed, perfectly neutral in its reaction, dissolves in alco- 
hol and ether in all proportions; the alcoholic solution is decomposed by 
alkalies, with a deposition of gelatinous silica; a few drops thrown into 4 
red hot platinum crucible burn with a white flame, depositing silica. 
Upon analysis it proves to be a silicate of the oxide of ethyle, having for 
its formula— 
SiO* 8C* H* O; (with Berzelius’s equivalent for silica, 22'1.) 
or SiO 8C* H* O, (with Dumas’s equivalent for silica, 73). 
By fractional distillation of the liquid that passed over between 338° 
and 672° Fah. and analyzing, it is found that the proportion of carbon 
and hydrogen remains unchanged, the silica constantly i increasing. That 
portion of liquid distilled at about 572° Fah. is colorless, possesses a fee- 
ble odor, and is of a different taste from the first ether; its density is 
1035; the action of water and of ee alkalies is the same as upon the 
other. Its formula is, (SiO)? C+ H 
From this it would appear that tae acid has at least two ethers—the 
first fact of the kind connected with the history of the ethers, and which 
corresponds to the numerous silicates of different degrees of saturation 
found in the mineral kingdom. The following i is the manner in which 
the alcohol and chloride of silicon react to form the ae ethers. 
Si Cl+-C* H® 0°=H Cl+Si0 C4 H* O, first et 
Rpg Bio H¢ 0?)=C! H® C-LH C}-4(Si Oe C! I$ O, second 
eth 
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