62 DERIVATIVES OF ETHYL ALCOHOL. 



be added, the reaction takes place at a lower tempera- 

 ture), or by gently heating equal parts of ethyl iodide 

 and zinc-sodium in an atmosphere of carbonic anhy- 

 dride. When the reaction ceases, the zincethyl iodide 

 C 2 H 5 .ZnI is decomposed by means of heat, and the zinc- 

 ethyl distilled off. Colorless liquid ; specific gravity, 

 1.18 ; boiling point, 118. It takes fire in the air and 

 burns with a white flame. "When its solution in ether 

 is slowly oxidized, it is transformed into zinc ethylate 

 (C 2 H 5 0) 2 Zn, a white, solid body. Sulphur converts 

 it, in an ethereal solution, into zinc mercaptide 

 (C 2 H 5 S) 2 Zn. Water decomposes zincethyl instanta- 

 neously, forming zinc hydroxide and ethyl hydride. 

 Sodium and potassium are dissolved by an excess of 

 zincethyl, zinc being thrown down: when this solu- 

 tion is cooled or the excess of zincethyl evaporated in 

 an atmosphere of hydrogen, a crystalline compound of 

 zincethyl with sodium- or potassiumethyl separates. 

 From these compounds the potassium or sodium com- 

 pounds can be isolated. 



Mercury ethyl, (C 2 H 5 ) 2 Hg, is produced by the distil- 

 lation of mercury chloride or subchloride with an 

 excess of zincethyl. Can be best prepared by bring- 

 ing sodium-amalgam and ethyl iodide or bromine 

 together and adding acetic ether ( ^ the weight of 

 the bromide or iodide). The mixture is alternately 

 shaken and cooled and finally subjected to distillation. 

 The distillate is again treated with sodium-amalgam, 

 water added, the oily liquid, which separates, shaken 

 at first with an alcoholic solution of potassa for the 

 purpose of decomposing the acetic ether, then with 

 water, finally desiccated by means of calcium chloride 

 and rectified. Heavy, colorless liquid, boiling at 

 159 ; specific gravity, 2.44. Exceedingly poisonous. 

 Insoluble in water, but slightly soluble in alcohol, 

 easily in ether. When heated with zinc at 100 it is 

 converted into zincethyl. By boiling its alcoholic solu- 

 tion with corrosive sublimate there is formed a crys- 

 talline precipitate of mercuryethyl chloride C 2 H 5 HgCl. 

 The corresponding iodide C 2 H 5 HgI is formed slowly 



