Dr. Frankland on Organo-metallic Bodies. 223 



with zincethyle ; and a preliminary experiment completely realized 

 this expectation. The results of this reaction, together with its ex- 

 tension to other analogous organo-metallic compounds, form the sub- 

 ject of the present Memoir. 



I. Action of Zincethyle upon Iodide of Stanethyle. 



About two ounces of crystals of iodide of stanethyle were gradually 

 added to a strong solution of zincethyle in ether, care being taken to 

 preserve an excess of zincethyle. On submitting the resulting syrupy 

 liquid to distillation, it began to boil at 70° C. ; but the thermo- 

 meter rapidly rose to 180° C, between which temperature and 

 200° C. the greater part of the product passed over, solid iodide of 

 zinc containing a little zincethyle being left in the retort. The di- 

 stillate was washed with dilute acetic acid, and the dense ethereal 

 liquid which separated was dried over chloride of calcium, and recti- 

 fied. The greater portion of it distilled at 181°, and was collected 

 apart. Submitted to analysis, it yielded results leading to the 

 formula — 



Sn 





The following equation, therefore, expresses the action of zinc- 

 ethyle upon iodide of stanethyle : — 



Sn(C,H,)n _|Sn(C,H,), 

 ZnCCJ-IJJ ~ \ZnI 



Stannic ethide or binethide of tin is a limpid colourless liquid even 

 at — 13° C, possessing a very faint ethereal odour, resembling that of 

 oxide of stanethyle, and a slightly metallic, though not unpleasant 

 taste. Its specific gravity is 1 • 187 at 23° C. A determination of the 

 specific gravity of its vapour gave the number 8'021, showing that 

 stannic ethide consists of one volume of thin vapour and four volumes 

 of ethyle, the five volumes being condensed to two. Stannic ethide 

 boils at 181°C., and distils unchanged, thus differing from stannous 

 ethide, which decomposes at 1.00°, chiefly into metallic tin and 

 stannic ethide, a reaction calling to mind the behaviour of stannous 

 oxide when boiled with a caustic alkali. Stannic ethide is inflam- 

 mable, burning with a lurid flame fringed with deep blue and evol- 

 ving white fumes of stannic oxide. In oxygen it burns much more 

 brilliantly, with a white light fringed with blue. 



It was important to ascertain the deportment of stannic ethide 

 with negative elements, since, if it were found to be capable of direct 

 combination, its analogy to inorganic stannic compounds would be, 

 to a great extent, disproved. Like zincethyle, however, stannic ethide 

 is incapable of combining with any other element without the expul- 

 sion of at least an equivalent amount of its ethyle. Treated with 

 iodine, the latter dissolves with a deep brown colour, which, how- 

 ever, gradually disappears ; and if the addition of iodine be con- 

 tinued until decolorization be no longer effected, the resulting 

 liauid, on being submitted to distillation, is found to consist of iodide 

 of ethyle, which distils over, and an iodine salt, possessing the un- 



