790 ACETYL. 



Sulphuret of ether with chlorine. Regnault has observed that 

 the sulphuret of ethyl is powerfully acted upon by chlorine, 

 with the assistance of light ; 4 atoms of hydrogen are replaced 

 by 4 atoms of chlorine, and the compound C 4 C1 4 HS formed, 

 which is a fetid liquid, boiling about 320 (160 cent.) ; of 

 density 1.673 at 75.2 (24 cent.) 



Chloracetic add, C 4 C1 3 O 3 -fHO. This remarkable acid, in 

 which the 3 atoms of the hydrogen of acetic acid are replaced by 

 3 atoms of chlorine, was obtained, by M. Dumas, by the action 

 of chlorine gas contained in large balloons upon the hydrate of 

 acetic acid, exposed to the direct rays of the sun for a whole 

 day. It crystallizes in rhomboidal plates or colourless needles, 

 which deliquesce rapidly in damp air. Chloracetic acid whitens 

 the tongue ; its vapour is suffocating and painful to the organs 

 of respiration. It reddens litmus, without bleaching it. The 

 crystals fuse at 45 or 46 cent. ; and fused they enter into ebul- 

 lition between 195 and 200 cent. The density of the fused 

 acid at 46 cent, is 1.617. It forms a class of salts which 

 greatly resemble the acetates ; they are all soluble, and are 

 blackened by an excess of alkali even more readily than the 

 acetates. 



Chloracetic acid exhibits a beautiful transformation when 

 heated in contact with an alkali ; it is decomposed into perchlo- 

 ride of formyle, a metallic chloride, and alkaline carbonate and 

 formiate. Acetic acid gives in the same circumstances light 

 carburetted hydrogen (C 2 H 4 ) and an alkaline carbonate. (Du- 

 mas, An. de Ch. Ixxiii, 77 and 89). 



Heavy chlorinated ether. The body which principally is 

 formed when alcohol of 80 per cent. (0.848) is saturated with 

 humid chlorine gas. It precipitates from the acid liquid when 

 water is added. It is colourless, neutral, of density 1.277, an d 

 boils between 112 and 125 cent. The results of its analysis are 

 discordant, which M. Regnault supposes to arise from interme- 

 diate chlorinated bodies, which form between aldehyde and 

 chloral : 



Aldehyde. . C 4 H 4 O 2 



Intermediate bods. ^ TT 3 ^ 2 

 I U 4 H 2 L/I 2 <J 2 



Chloral. . . C 4 H C1 3 O 2 



