DERIVATIVES OF ETHYL ALCOHOL. 45 



pure condition and free from water, almost inodorous. 

 Specific gravity, 0.78945 at + 20, 0.80625 at 0. Does 

 not solidify even at 100. Boiling point, 78. Easily 

 inflammable, burning with a flame, which has a weak 

 light and does not soot. Attracts moisture from the 

 air, and is miscible with water in all proportions with 

 the accompaniment of heat and contraction of the 

 volume of the mixture. The greatest contraction takes 

 place when one molecule of alcohol is mixed with three 

 molecules of water. 100 volumes of this mixture 

 contain 53.939 volumes of alcohol and 49.836 volumes 

 of water, hence the contraction amounts to 3.775 

 volumes. With an increase of the amount of water 

 contained in it the boiling point is elevated and the 

 specific gravity increased. 



Like water, it is a solvent for a great many sub- 

 stances ; it combines, also, with salts, forming crystal- 

 line compounds. 



Decompositions. By means of oxidizing agents (black 

 oxide of manganese and sulphuric acid, chromic acid, 

 etc.) and oxygen in the presence of spongy platinum 

 or certain organic substances, it is converted into 

 aldehyde and acetic acid. When heated with nitric 

 acid a violent reaction takes place, and a large number 

 of products result. Mixed with sulphuric acid there 

 result, according to the proportions of the two and the 

 temperature, either ethylsulphuric acid, ether, or ethy- 

 lene (C 2 H 4 ). Potassium and sodium are dissolved by 

 it, hydrogen being evolved, and potassium and sodium 

 ethylate C 2 H 5 .OK being formed. 



DERIVATIVES OF ETHYL ALCOHOL. 



Ethyl chloride, C 2 H 5 C1. Absolute alcohol is satu- 

 rated with dried hydrochloric acid gas, the liquid 

 heated to boiling after standing for twenty-four hours, 

 the evolved ethyl chloride passed through water of the 

 temperature of 25 for the purpose of cleansing it, and 

 then condensed in a vessel which is cooled at least 

 down to 0. It is formed by the action of chlorine on 



