1862.] 297 



greet his future contributions, whether on astronomical or physical 

 subjects. 



The Council have awarded one of the Royal Medals to Dr. Alex- 

 ander William Williamson, Professor of Chemistry and of Practical 

 Chemistry in University College, London, for his researches on the 

 Compound Ethers, and his subsequent communications in Organic 

 Chemistry. 



One of the most important discussions entered upon by chemists 

 in the last few years has been the true molecular arrangement of or- 

 dinary vinic alcohol and ether. The interest shown in the subject, 

 both at home and abroad, may be ascribed to the opinion generally 

 prevailing amongst chemists, that upon the correct appreciation of 

 the phenomena involved in the process of etherification must depend 

 the successful unlocking of many secrets connected with organic 

 chemistry. 



Gay-Luss.ac and the French school regarded ether as olefiant gas 

 combined with one molecule of water, and alcohol as olefiant gas 

 combined with two molecules of water. Berzelius thought ether 

 and alcohol were oxides of different hydrocarbons ; and, seeing the 

 difficulty of explaining the process of etherification by the then 

 current hypothesis, supposed that a peculiar force was exerted, to 

 which was given the name of Catalysis. Lastly, the German school, 

 with Liebig at their head, regarded ether as the oxide of the unisolated 

 radical ethyl, and alcohol as its hydrated oxide. 



Dr. Williamson here took up the question, and showed that when 

 sulphuric acid and alcohol are brought together, a change of place 

 is effected between the ethyl of the sulphovinic acid produced and 

 an atom of hydrogen of the alcohol, and consequently that the ether 

 which results from the action is compounded of a double molecule 

 of ethyl and a single molecule of oxygen. 



These views were put beyond the range of mere hypothesis by a hap- 

 pily conceived series of experiments, which resulted in the discovery 

 of the important substances known as the " compound " or " mixed 

 ethers." Dr. Williamson showed that these bodies are formed upon 

 the type of water, the two hydrogen atoms of which are capable of 

 replacement by different hydrocarbon radicals. 



These considerations were embodied in two papers which have had 



