ACID SULPHATE OF OXIDE OF ETHYL. 7()'9 



neutral salts are only partially decomposed by alkalies and me- 

 tallic oxides,, a neutral double salt being formed, in which the 

 acid is united with equal proportions of oxide of ethyl and me- 

 tallic oxide. The latter can again be removed by a stronger 

 acid for which it has an affinity, and then an acid double salt is 

 formed, in which the ethyl is combined with a salt of water. 

 The metallic oxide of the neutral double salts can also be 

 replaced by another metallic oxide, but the acid of the double 

 salt is not affected by its usual precipitants, the sulphate of 

 ethyl and potash, for instance, not being precipitated by chlo- 

 ride of barium. 



The acid salts of oxide of ethyl are not crystallizable, a con- 

 centrated solution has a certain degree of stability, and may be 

 heated to 212, but a dilute solution decomposes spontaneously 

 at the temperature of the air, and more rapidly when heated, 

 with the formation of alcohol and a hydrate of the acid. Some 

 of them, of which the hydrate is but slightly volatile, such as 

 the acid sulphate of ether, are decomposed at a higher tempe- 

 rature into ether which escapes and acid which remains in the 

 state of hydrate. 



The neutral salts of ethyl are generally derived from the acid 

 sulphate of ethyl. When to a highly concentrated solution of 

 the latter, solutions of other acids are added, it usually happens 

 that the latter assume the oxide of ethyl to form neutral salts, 

 and leave behind the hydrate of sulphuric acid; the mucate, 

 oleate and stearate of ethyl are formed in this way. Or when 

 to a similar solution of the acid sulphate of ethyl salts are added, 

 of which the acids are volatile and form volatile compounds 

 with oxide of ethyl, the sulphuric acid unites with the base of 

 the other salt, while the volatile acid combines with oxide of 

 ethyl, and distils over with the latter. 



ACID SULPHATE OF OXIDE OF ETHYL, OR SULPHATE OF OXIDE 

 OF ETHYL AND WATER, 



Syn. Etherosulphuric acid, sulphethylic acid (Mitscherlich), 

 sulphovinic acid-, EO,SO 3 -f HO,SO 3 . 



The neutral sulphate of ethyl has not yet been formed. 



The acid sulphate of ethyl may be formed directly by trans- 

 mitting the vapour of ether through the hydrate of sulphuric 

 acid so long as it is dissolved. On afterwards diluting that 



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