MM. Geuther and Wanklyn on Sodium-alcohol. 427 



a base thus copulated, although probably investigations under- 

 taken in this direction will reveal the existence of others. 



According to Geuther*, when sodium-alcohol is heated to the 

 temperatiu-e of boiling water in dry carbonic oxide gas, an ab- 

 sorption takes place, and the sodium-alcohol is converted into a 

 white, solid, crystalline mass. The experiment was undertaken 

 in the expectation that it would lead to the formation of pro- 

 pionic acid, 



C* H^ Na02 + 2 CO = C6 H5 NaO^ 

 Sodium-alcohol. Propionate of soda. 



An acid was indeed formed ; but it was formic, and not propionic 

 acid. From this Geuther concludes that sodium-alcohol is changed 

 by carbonic oxide into olefiant gas, C'* H"*, and hydrate of soda, 

 NaO HO ; and that the formic acid arose from the action of the 

 carbonic oxide on the latter. Geuther was not able to detect 

 the olefiant gas formed. 



Wanklynf also examined this reaction. He found, when pure 

 sodium-alcohol was heated in closed vessels in carbonic oxide 

 and afterwards opened over mercury, that only about one-fifth 

 of the gas was absorbed. This contraction arose partly from 

 the difference between the temperature of the flask at the time 

 it was sealed, and that at which the contraction was observed, 

 and partly from the absorption of the carbonic oxide by the hy- 

 drate of soda always contained in sodium-alcohol. By a careful 

 analysis of the residual gas, Wanklyn found that it contained no 

 trace of olefiant gas, and hence he concludes that the formic acid 

 produced in Geuther's experiment must have arisen from the hy- 

 drate of soda contained in the sodium-alcohol used. 



In continuing his researches on glycol, Wurtz has obtained a 

 body which he considers to be the true ether of glycol. When 

 glycol, saturated with hydrochloric acid gas, is heated for some 

 time in a closed vessel, combination takes place with the elimi- 

 nation of water, and formation of a neutral chlorinated body 

 which is a kind of ether, 



C4H6 04 + HC1=C4H^C102 4-H2 02. 



Glycol. New body. 



This Wurtz names monohydrochloric glycol. It is a colourless, 

 neutral, soluble liquid, boiling at 128^ C. When this substance 

 is treated with potash, it is decomposed with formation of chlo- 

 ride of potassium, and a gas, or rather vapour, which is inilaiii- 

 mablc and burns like olefiant gas. This i^ the oxide of ethylene, 



* Licbig's Annalen, January 1859. t Ibid. Ai)ril 185f>. 



