50 DERIVATIVES OF ETHYL ALCOHOL. 



liquid distilled off down to one-eighth of the original 

 volume. The distillate is agitated with water; the 

 ether, which is precipitated, is separated from the 

 water, desiccated by means of calcium chloride, and 

 rectified on a water bath. Without the presence of 

 the urea, a violent reaction takes place and the acid 

 and the alcohol are thoroughly decomposed, forming 

 nitrous ether together with many other products. 

 Colorless liquid, of pleasant odor ; of specific gravity, 

 1.132 at ; boiling point, 87. Does not mix with 

 water; burns with a white flame; its vapor explodes 

 when heated above the boiling point. 



Ethyl nitrite, C 2 H 5 .N0 2 , is formed when nitrous 

 anhydride is mixed with well-cooled aqueous alcohol, 

 in which case the ether separates immediately ; or by 

 conducting the acid in a gaseous form into the alcohol 

 and condensing the gaseous ether that passes over by 

 cooling. Is prepared most easily by adding a solution 

 of potassium nitrate to a mixture of alcohol and sul- 

 phuric acid, or by pouring this mixture upon the dry 

 salt. Pale yellow, very thin liquid, of an agreeable 

 fruity odor; specific gravity, 0.947; boiling point, 

 16. 5; does not mix with water; decomposes when 

 kept for any length of time. 



Ethyl sulphate, (C 2 H 5 .0) 2 S0 2 , is formed when the 

 vapor of sulphuric anhydride is conducted into well- 

 cooled ether, or, better, when absolute alcohol or ether 

 is added drop by drop to sulphuryl oxichloride 

 (S0 2 .C1.0H). Colorless, thick liquid, undergoes de- 

 composition at 130-140. 



Ethylsulphuric acid (Sulphovinic acid), C 2 H 5 .0. 

 S0 2 .OH, is formed when 1 part of alcohol and 2 parts 

 of sulphuric acid are mixed together. "When the mix- 

 ture has cooled, it is diluted with water, neutralized 

 with barium carbonate, and the dissolved barium 

 ethylsulphate filtered off. The solution is then care- 

 fully evaporated, and the ethylsulphuric acid obtained 

 in a free state by precipitating the barium with the 



