64 DERIVATIVES OF ETHYL ALCOHOL. 



Ethyl sulphhydrate (Mercaptan), C 2 H 6 S= C 2 H 5 .SH, 



is produced by distilling a mixture of concentrated 

 solutions of potassium ethylsulphate and potassium 

 sulphhydrate. Very thin, colorless liquid, of an ex- 

 ceedingly nauseous smell ; specific gravity, 0.831 ; boil- 

 ing point, 36. Does not mix with water; easily in- 

 flammable. 



It dissolves potassium and sodium, hydrogen being 

 evolved, and, on evaporating, granular compounds 

 potassium and sodium mercaptide, C 2 H 5 .SK and C 2 H 5 .SNa, 

 are left behind. With a number of metallic oxides, 

 it forms water and similar metallic compounds, the 

 action being accompanied by an evolution of heat. 



Mercury mercaptide, (C 2 H 5 .S) 2 Hg, crystallizes from 

 alcohol in colorless shining laminae, fuses at 85-87, 

 and is decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen, yielding 

 mercury sulphide and mercaptan ; hence used as a 

 means of purification for crude mercaptan. When 

 mercaptan is mixed with an alcoholic solution of cor- 

 rosive sublimate, there results a difficultly soluble 

 precipitate, C 2 H 5 .S.HgCl. 



Ethyl sulphide, (C 2 H 5 ) 2 S, is best prepared by con- 

 ducting ethyl chloride into an alcoholic solution of 

 potassium sulphide and then distilling. It is precipi- 

 tated from the distillate by means of water. Colorless, 

 thin liquid of an exceedingly disagreeable smell ; spe- 

 cific gravity, 0.825 ; boiling point, 91. Combines with 

 several metallic chlorides. Mercury chloride causes a 

 precipitate from an alcoholic solution (C 2 H 5 ) 2 S.HgCl 2 ; 

 platinum chloride precipitates 2 [(C 2 H 5 ) 2 S].PtCl 4 . On 

 being oxidized with dilute nitric acid, it is converted 

 into sulphethyl oxide (C 2 IP) 2 SO. Thick liquid, not 

 volatile without decomposition. Treated with fuming 

 nitric acid diethylsulphon (C 2 H 5 ) 2 S0 2 is produced. Large, 

 thin plates, which fuse at 70, begin to sublime below 

 100,.and boil at 248 without decomposition. Easily 

 soluble in alcohol and water. Hydrogen in statu nas- 

 cendi (zinc and sulphuric acid) reconverts it into ethyl 

 sulphide. 



