64 DERIVATIVES OF ETHYL ALCOHOL. 



Ethyl sulphhydrate(Mercaptan),C 2 H 6 S=C 2 H 5 .SH, 



is produced by distilling a mixture of concentrated 

 solutions of potassium ethylsulphate and potassium 

 sulphhydrate. Very thin, colorless liquid, of an ex 

 ceedingly nauseous smell ; specific gravity, 0.831 ; boil 

 ing point, 36. Does not mix with water; easily in 

 flammable. 



It dissolves potassium and sodium, hydrogen being 

 evolved, and, on evaporating, granular compounds 

 potassium and sodium mercaptide, C 2 H 5 .SK and C 2 H 5 .SNa, 

 are left behind. With a number of metallic oxides, 

 it forms water and similar metallic compounds, the 

 action being accompanied by an evolution of heat. 



Mercury mercaptide, (C 2 H 5 .S) 2 Hg, crystallizes from 

 alcohol in colorless shining laminee, fuses at 85-87, 

 and is decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen, yielding 

 mercury sulphide and mercaptan ; hence used as a 

 means of purification for crude mercaptan. When 

 mercaptan is mixed with an alcoholic solution of cor 

 rosive sublimate, there results a diificultly soluble 

 precipitate, C 2 H 5 .S.HgCl. 



Ethyl sulphide, (C 2 H 5 ) 2 S, is best prepared by con 

 ducting ethyl chloride into an alcoholic solution of 

 potassium sulphide and then distilling. It is precipi 

 tated from the distillate by means of water. Colorless, 

 thin liquid of an exceedingly disagreeable smell ; spe 

 cific gravity, 0.825 ; boiling point, 91. Combines with 

 several metallic chlorides. Mercury chloride causes a 

 precipitate from an alcoholic solution (C 2 H 5 ) 2 S.IIgCl 2 ; 

 platinum chloride precipitates 2 [(C 2 H 5 ) 2 S].PtCl 4 . On 

 being oxidized with dilute nitric acid, it is converted 

 into sulphethyl oxide (C 2 IP) 2 SO. Thick liquid, not 

 volatile without decomposition. Treated with fuming 

 nitric acid diethylsulphon (C 2 H 5 ) 2 S0 2 is produced. Large, 

 thin plates, which fuse at 70, begin to sublime below 

 100, and boil at 248 without decomposition. Easily 

 soluble in alcohol and water. Hydrogen in statu nas- 

 cendi (zinc and sulphuric acid) reconverts it into ethyl 

 sulphide. 



