ETHER. 



in reality to be saturated by it after, than 

 before, its mixture with the alcohol. 



There are also some facts which ap- 

 pear to prove the necessity of the pre- 

 sence of some substance that can part 

 with its oxygen, for the production of 

 ether. Thus, ether cannot be formed 

 from the muriatic acid, but it can with 

 facility from the oxymuriatic ; it is like- 

 wise formed with great rapidity by the 

 nitric acid; neither of which can exert 

 a strong disposing affinity to water, 

 though both very readily part with their 

 oxygen. 



VVhatever opinion, however, may be 

 formed as to the manner in which the 

 changes that take place during the for- 

 mation of ether are produced, the na- 

 ture of the changes themselves seems 

 sufficiently well ascertained. It is proved, 

 that a quantity of the hydrogen of the 

 alcohol is expended in the formation of 

 water, as the remaining acid is always in 

 a diluted state : a still larger quantity of 

 carbon is also separated, and is mechani- 

 cally diffused through the liquor. The 

 ether, therefore, which is the only other 

 product of the operation, is to be consi- 

 dered as a compound of hydrogen and 

 carbon, and perhaps oxygen ; differing 1 

 from alcohol, in containing a much larger 

 quantity of hydrogen, proportioned to its 

 carbon ; and to this predominance of 

 hydrogen its great levity and volatility 

 are owing. This conclusion is confirm- 

 ed, by its analysis by combustion, the 

 products of which are water and car- 

 bonic acid ; the former being derived 

 from the combination of its hydrogen 

 with the oxygen of the air, the latter 

 from the same combination of its carbon. 

 Mr. Cruikshank found, that the vapour 

 of ether requires about seven times its 

 volume of oxygen to saturate it in com- 

 bustion ; the products being water and 

 carbonic acid gas, the latter amounting to 

 4.6 parts by measure. From this result, 

 compared with a similar experiment on 

 alcohol, he inferred, that the proportion 

 of carbon to hydrogen in the ether is as 

 5 to 1 nearly, while in alcohol it is as 8 or 

 9 to 1. (" Nicholson's Journal," 4to. vol. 

 v. p. 205.) 



Besides ether, there are some other 

 products formed during the action of 

 sulphuric acid upon alcohol. Towards 

 the end of the process an oily-like mat- 

 ter distils over, which has been named 

 Sweet Oil of Wine. This can be ob- 

 tained separate, by changing the re- 

 ceiver : it is unctuous, thick, and less 

 volatile than the ether, but is soluble 



both in it and in alcohol. It is obtained, 

 likewise, by distilling sulphuric ether 

 from a fresh quantity of acid. Chemists 

 are not agreed respecting its nature : 

 Fourcroy and Vauquelin consider it as si- 

 milar to ether, and that it differs from that 

 fluid, principally, in containing a larger 

 proportion of carbon, which gives to it 

 more density and less volatility. Other 

 chemists, particularly Higgins, have af- 

 firmed, that it is a compound of ether 

 and sulphurous acid, and that by the ad- 

 dition of an alkali, which combines with 

 the acid, a quantity of ether may be ob- 

 tained from it. It does not appear, how- 

 ever, that this combination can be formed 

 directly, or that ether can combine with a 

 large quantity of sulphurous acid, so as to 

 assume the properties of oil of wine ; 

 and though this substance may contain a 

 portion of this acid, it is not improbable 

 that it also differs from ether in its ulti- 

 mate composition. At the same time that 

 the oil of wine is disengaged, there is 

 formed a quantity of defiant gas, which 

 passes off. It was in this process, indeed, 

 th..t the production of this gas was first 

 observed ; and the action of sulphuric 

 acid on alcohol still affords us the best 

 method of obtaining it pure. The same 

 gas is produced, by passing the vapour 

 of ether through an ignited earthen tube ; 

 but when a glass tube is used, a different 

 variety of carburetted hydrogen is ob- 

 tained. 



At this stage of the process the liquor 

 becomes so loaded with carbon, and at 

 the same time is capable of bearing so 

 high a temperature, that if the heat is 

 kept up, the sulphuric acid is decom- 

 posed, and a large quantity of sulphu- 

 rous acid gas and carbonic acid is pro- 

 duced. If the greatest care is not taken 

 to keep the heat moderate, the whole., 

 liquor is apt to swell suddenly up, and 

 boil over into the receiver. If examined 

 at this time, it is likewise found to con- 

 tain a portion of acetic and oxalic acids 

 mixed with the sulphuric acid, which is 

 diluted with water, and through which 

 the carbon is diffused. Sulphuric ether, 

 when highly rectified, is the lightest of 

 all known liquids. It is obtained without 

 difficulty of the specific gravity of .732, 

 and by careful distillation has been 

 brought so low as .716. It is colourless, 

 and perfectly transparent ; has a strong 

 pungent taste, and a fragrant penetrating 

 smell. 



It is likewise the most volatile liquid. 

 It evaporates rapidly, even at the com- 

 mon temperature, and under the com- 



