88 DERIVATIVES OF METHYL ALCOHOL. 



10, forming a liquid of specific gravity 2.8. Can 

 only be distilled in a vacuum without decomposition. 



Acetonitrile (Methyl cyanide), C 2 H 3 ^"=CH 3 .CK 

 Is obtained by gently heating acetamide with phos- 

 phoric anhydride or phosphorus pentasulphide ; and 

 by distilling a mixture of potassium methylsulphate 

 with potassium cyanide. Colorless liquid, boiling at 

 82?. Combines with two atoms of bromine, with 

 hydrobromic and hydriodie acids, and with several 

 metallic chlorides. Is decomposed by boiling with 

 potassa, yielding ammonia and potassium acetate, and 

 gives, with hydrogen in statu nascendi, ethylamine. 

 For the substitution-products of acetonitrile, see ful- 

 minic acid. 



Methyl carbylamine, C 2 IP^=CH 3 .]SrC (isomeric 

 with acetonitrile). Is formed by the action of methyla- 

 mine on chloroform in the presence of potassa; by 

 heating one molecule of methyl iodide with two mole- 

 cules of silver cyanide to 130-140, and distilling 

 the resulting crystalline compound C 2 IPN -1- AgCN" 

 with half its weight of potassium cyanide and a little 

 water. Is formed in small quantity, together with 

 acetonitrile, by the distillation of a mixture of potas- 

 sium methylsulphate with potassium cyanide. Color- 

 less liquid, possessing an exceedingly strong odor. 

 Soluble in ten parts of water. Boiling point, 58-59. 

 Combines with thoroughly dried hydrochloric acid 

 gas; is decomposed by dilute hydrochloric acid, how- 

 ever, and by being heated with water to 180, yielding 

 methylamine and formic acid. 



Methylether, (CH 3 )^, is formed, but with difficulty, 

 by distilling methyl alcohol with four times its weight 

 of concentrated sulphuric acid. Colorless gas, of 

 ethereal odor, congealing at 21; combustible, ex- 

 ploding violently with chlorine; specific gravity, 1.617. 

 "Water absorbs thirty-seven times its volume of the 

 gas. Combines with sulphuric anhydride, forming 

 methyl sulphate. 



