224 Royal Society : — 



bearably pmigent oilour of one of the products of the action of tin 

 upon iodide of ethyle at 1G0°C., and described by MM. Cahours 

 and Riche as iodide of distannous ethyle, Sn2(CjH5).,I. The iodine 

 salt appears, in fact, to be either identical with this body or to consist 

 of stannic iodotriethide (Sn^ (C, 113)3 1)*. 



Stannic ethide does not decompose water, and is n.)t acted upon 

 by strong aqueous hydrochloric acid in the cold. When, however, 

 heat is applied to the mixture of the two liquids, bubbles of gas are 

 slowly evolved ; but it requires from twelve to eighteen hours to 

 complete the reaction. The gas was found to be pure hydride of 

 ethyle, and the quantity evolved was such as to show that exactly 

 one equivalent of ethyle was expelled in the form of hydride from two 

 equivalents of stannic ethide, indicating the following reaction : — 

 2Sn(C,H,)., 1 _ fC,H,H 



HCl "|-lSn,(C,H,)3Cl. 



II. Action of Zincmethyle njjon Iodide of Stanethyle. 



About three ounces of crystallized iodide of stanethyle were gra- 

 dually added to a solution of zincmethyle in ether. Considerable heat 

 was evolved, and the vessel in which the reaction was performed 

 required to be plunged into cold water. On treating the product 

 as before described, a liquid was obtained boiling between 143° and 

 118° C, and yielding, on analysis, numbers closely corresponding 

 with the formula 



C. H, 



The action of zincmethyle upon iodide of stanethyle may therefore 

 be thus expressed : — 



ZnC.Hg J t Znl. 



The new body thus formed, and for which I propose the name 

 stannic ethylomethi.de, is a colourless limpid liquid, u.ndistinguish- 

 able in appearance from stannic ethide. It possesses, like the latter, 

 a very faint ethereal odour and a slightly metallic taste. Its specific 

 gravity is 1-231!) at 19° C. It does not solidify at — 13°C. 

 Stannic ethylomethide boils between 144° and 14G°C. The specific 

 gravity of its vapour is 6"838, showing that its constitution is similar 

 to that of stannic ethide. It is easily inflammable, and exhibits the 

 same deportment as stannic ethide with chlorine, iodine, and bro- 

 mine ; its combination with these elements being always attended 

 with the expulsion of methyle. Stannic ethylomethide dissolves 

 iodine, assuming a magnificent crimson colour, which disappears 

 with extreme slowness unless heat be applied. When, however, 



* Whilst I was engaged with these experiments, Mr. Buckton announced the 

 formation of stannic ethide (Pliil. Mag. scr. 4. vol. xvii. p. 217), and mentioned 

 his intention to study the salts formed by the action of iodine, bromine, &c., 

 upon that body ; I have not, therefore, prosecuted the inquiry further in this 

 direction. 



