COMPOUNDS OF ETHYL. 85 



ether, the name which it continues to bear in commerce ; it is also 

 frequently known by the simple name ether. 



Prepared by boiling together equal weights of alcohol and sulphuric 

 acid, and receiving the products in a vessel surrounded by ice. Various 

 other substances are generated at the same time, such as sulphovinic 

 acid, oil of wine, sulphurous acid, and others. The ether obtained 

 may be mixed with a little caustic potash, and redistilled by a gentle 

 heat. 



Prop. — Pure ether is a colourless, transparent, fragrant liquid; 

 sp. gr. about "720 ; boils at 96°; very volatile and inflammable; 

 burns with a white flame, generating water and carbonic acid. Its 

 vapour has a sp. gr. of 2-586. When mixed with oxygen, it ex- 

 plodes with violence by means of an electric spark. When ether is 

 transmitted through a red-hot tube, it is decomposed into defiant gas, 

 light carburetted hydrogen and aldehyde. It is very soluble in 

 alcohol ; but only one part is dissolved in ten of water. It may be 

 separated from alcohol by the addition of water, which unites with 

 the alcohol. It is a solvent for oils and fats generally ; but its solvent 

 powers are inferior to those of either alcohol or water. 



Regarding ether to be a compound of ethyl with oxygen, or an oxide 

 of ethyl, it is found that this oxide is capable of uniting with the ox- 

 acids, and forming with them compounds analogous to salts. All 

 the halogen bodies, as chlorine, iodine, bromine, &c., unite directly 

 with the radical of ether, just as they do with metallic radicals. 

 The following are some of the ether compounds : 



Ethyl, ... - C*H^ 



Oxide of ethyl, ether, - - C^H^O 



Hydrate of the oxide, alcohol, - C-^H^O -f HO 



Chloride of ethyl, - - - C*ff+Cl 



Iodide of ethyl, - - - C^H^+I 



Bromide of ethyl, - - - C^H^+Br 



Nitrate of oxide of ethyl, - C*H«0+ NO^ 



Hyponitrite of oxide of ethyl, - C^H«0-f NO3 



Oxalate of oxide of ethyl, - C^H^O + C^Og, &c. 



These compounds of ethyl and its oxide are obtained from alcohol — 

 the hydrated oxide — by the action of the corresponding acids, as on 

 an ordinary metallic oxide. 



Hydrate of oxide of etliyl. Alcohol. — This compound can only be 

 obtained through the medium of the vinous fermentation. 



When a solution of sugar, in connexion with some ferment, as 

 yeast, is subjected to a temperature of 70° to 80°, an intestine move- 

 ment commences, denom'mdi\edfermeniatiO?i; bubbles of gas escape, 

 the liquor becomes turbid ; but after a while it becomes clear, when 

 the sugar is found to have disappeared, and its place is occupied by 

 alcohol. Such a liquid will yield alcohol by distillation. The gas 



8 



