132 



which is gradually heated up to about 240 C. The whole of the 

 distillate obtained by the oil-bath is collected in a dry receiver, and 

 as it is prone to decomposition if distilled in air, it is distilled in an 

 atmosphere of hydrogen, the portion which comes off at 188 C. is 

 the phosphite of ethyl. I may here notice the remarkable fact, that 

 this substance has two boiling points, as doubtless have many other 

 bodies, if distilled under similar circumstances. In air it boils at 

 191 C. while, as I said before, it boils in hydrogen at 188 C. Its 

 specific gravity is T075. 



3rd. The reaction which occurs on the formation of this ether 

 may be represented by the following formula : 



3NaO, C 4 H 5 O+PCl 3 =3NaCl+3C 4 H 5 O, PO 3 . 



The carbon and hydrogen were estimated in the usual manner by 

 oxide of copper, the phosphorus as follows. A weighed portion of 

 the ether was introduced into a twelve ounce stoppered bottle; 

 concentrated nitric acid was poured upon it, and the bottle allowed 

 to stand in a warm place, loosely stopped, for several days. When 

 nitrous fumes no longer appeared, the oxidation of the phosphorous 

 acid was deemed to be complete. The acid liquid was then saturated 

 with ammonia, some chloride of ammonium and sulphate of magnesia 

 then added, and the mixture well shaken. It was allowed to stand 

 for some time, when a precipitate of phosphate of magnesia and 

 ammonia was formed ; this was washed, dried, and ignited, and the 

 amount of phosphorus calculated from the result. These are the 

 results. 



Grms. C0 2 HO 2MgO, P0 6 



2405 ether gave -3784 and '1920 



5115 -8047 and -4155 



4513 '302 



4110 -278 



From these results the following per centages are calculated. 



100 100 100 



