DERIVATIVES OF METHYL ALCOHOL. 35 



Methylene chloride, CH 2 C1 2 . Is produced by the 

 action of chlorine on methyl chloride or methylene 

 iodide, and by treating chloroform with zinc and am- 

 monia. Colorless liquid of specific gravity 1.36 at ; 

 boiling point, 40 ; insoluble in water. 



Chloroform, CHC1 3 . Produced by the action of 

 chlorine on the preceding compounds, and in many 

 other ways, particularly by the action of calcium hypo- 

 chlorite on alcohol, wood spirit, acetone, and several 

 other organic bodies. It is prepared most expediently 

 by distilling 3 parts of alcohol, 100 parts of water, and 

 50 parts of calcium hypochlorite. It is purified by 

 shaking successively with water and sulphuric acid 

 and subsequent distillation. 



Colorless liquid, not miscible with water, with a 

 sweetish ethereal taste and odor; specific gravity, 1.48. 

 Boiling point, 62 ; not inflammable ; dissolves iodine, 

 the solution taking a bluish-purple color. Its vapor 

 on being inhaled causes unconsciousness and insensi- 

 bility. With an alcoholic solution of potassa it forms 

 potassium chloride and potassium formate ; with 

 sodium ethylate, a colorless ether, orthoformic ether 

 CH(O.C 2 H 5 ) 3 , which boils at 146. Heated with aque- 

 ous or alcoholic ammonia to 180 it yields ammonium 

 cyanide and chloride. If potassa is present this decom- 

 position takes place at 100. 



Carbon tetrachloride, CC1 4 . Is obtained most 

 readily by the action of chlorine on chloroform in di- 

 rect sunlight. Colorless liquid, of a pleasant odor, boil- 

 ing at 77 ; specific gra'vity, 1.6 ; below 25, solid and 

 crystalline; acts upon the organism analogously to 

 chloroform; yields potassium carbonate and chloride 

 when heated with an alcoholic solution of potassa. 



Methyl bromide, CH 3 Br. Is obtained by saturat- 

 ing methyl alcohol with hydrobromic acid, or better, 

 by mixing 6 parts of methyl alcohol with 1 part of 

 amorphous phosphorus, carefully adding 6 parts of 

 bromine, at the same time cooling the mixture, and 



