368 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. 



926. BEER AND ALE. Beer is the fer- 



tfow are malt 



liquors pre- merited extract of malted grain. The malt 

 pare ' is prepared by softening barley in water, 



and then allowing it to sprout or germinate. Diastase, 

 which is formed in the process of germination, con- 

 verts the starch of the grain into sugar, and thus pre- 

 pares it for the subsequent process of fermentation. 

 Yeast and hops are added to the extract of malt, which 

 is called the wort, to bring about fermentation and 

 help to give the product flavor. Ale is a similar malt 

 liquor of different color. Porter is a darker variety of 

 beer, made from malt which has been browned by 

 roasting. 



927. CONVERSION OF ALCOHOL INTO 



How is alcohol . , , , . , . 



converted into ETHER. Alcohol is converted into ether 

 ether ? ky h eat i n g w i tn o {\ o f vitriol. To illus- 



trate its preparation, equal 

 volumes of strong alcohol 

 and oil of vitriol may be 

 thoroughly mixed in a test- 

 tube, and the vapors con- 

 densed in a cool vial, as J 

 represented in the figure. 

 A little sand may be added to the mixture with advant- 

 age. The vial should be kept cool by means of paper 

 repeatedly moistened, during the process. The space 

 between the tube and the neck of the vial should also 

 be loosely closed with wet paper. 



928. EXPLANATION. Alcohol is, as 



Explain the -,*/ 



above re-ac- above stated, the hydrate of the oxide of 

 tl011 ' ethyl. Sulphuric acid combines with tho 



