82 ACETIC ACID. 



Sodium is dissolved by it, giving rise to the formation 

 of sodium ethylate and of a compound, C 6 H 9 ]N"a0 3 (so- 

 dium ethyldiacetate or sodium acetonecarbonic ether), 

 which is decomposed into sodium carbonate, carbonic 

 anhydride, alcohol, and acetone by the boiling of its 

 watery solution, and yields a colorless compound, boil- 

 ing at 181, C 6 H 10 3 (acetyl-acetic ether, ethyl-acetone 

 carbonate, ethyl-diacetic acid), on being heated in a 

 current of dry carbonic anl^dride or hydrochloric acid 

 gas. By the successive action of an excess of sodium 

 and ethyl iodide on acetic ether, there result, in addi- 

 tion to the ethyl compound, C 6 H 9 3 .C 2 II 5 (boiling point, 

 198), corresponding to the above sodium compound, 

 the ethyl ethers of diethyldiacetic acid (diethacetone 

 carbonic acid), C 8 H 13 3 .C 2 1F (boiling point, 210-212), 

 of butyric acid, C 4 H 7 2 .C 2 H 5 (boiling point, 119), and 

 of diethylacetic acid, C 6 H U 2 .C 2 H 5 (boiling point, 151 ; 

 isomeric with ethyl caproate). Analogous products 

 result by the successive action of sodium and the 

 iodides of other alcohol radicles. 



Amyl acetate, C 2 H 3 2 .C 5 H n . A liquid, boiling at 

 140, with a fruity odor. 



Monochloracetic acid, C^CIO 2 = CH'Cl.CO.OH, 

 results from the action of chlorine on concentrated 

 acetic acid, particularly in the presence of iodine, and 

 by the decomposition of chlorinated acetyl chloride 

 (which see) with water. Rhombic plates or prisms, 

 fusing at 62; boiling at 185-187. Yields glycolic 

 acid by boiling with the alkalies in aqueous solutions 

 or with silver oxide and water ; by heating with am- 

 monia, glycocol. 



The potassium salt, C 2 H 2 C10 2 .E: + 1JH 2 0, crystallizes 

 in laminae ; the silver salt, C 2 H 2 C10 2 Ag, in small scales 

 of a mother-of-pearl lustre. 



Ethyl monochloracetate, C 2 H 2 C10.0.C 2 H 5 . A so- 

 lution of chloracetic acid in absolute alcohol is saturated 

 with hydrochloric acid gas, then heated gently for some 



