ETHER. 



inon pressure of the atmosphere ; so 

 that it cannot be poured from one vessel 

 into another without loss, and any part 

 wet with it immediately becomes dry. 

 In vacuo it boils at a temperature consi- 

 derably below 32 : under the atmosphe- 

 ric pressure it boils at 98. In the spon- 

 taneous evaporation of ether a large 

 quantity of caloric is absorbed, so as to 

 produce cold: water inclosed in a small 

 tube may be easily frozen, by ether eva- 

 porating from a piece of muslin wrapt 

 round the external surface of the tube ; 

 and Dr. Rig-gins has observed, that in the 

 rapid evaporation of ether, the tempera- 

 ture in frosty weather falls so low as 40. 

 Ether congeals at 47. 



Ether is highly inflammable, and, when 

 kindled, burns with a clear white flame, 

 without any smoke, and without leaving 

 any residuum, the products of its com- 

 bustion being water and carbonic acid : 

 the residual water generally gives indica- 

 tions too of sulphuric acid, which may 

 either be adventitious, or perhaps is es- 

 sential to the constitution of this species 

 of ether. From its high inflammability, 

 its vapour diffused in the atmosphere 

 sometimes takes fire ; or if a drop or two 

 of ether be added to atmospheric air, 

 or oxygen gas, an explosion happens on 

 the contact of an ignited body. 



Sulphuric ether is soluble in water; 

 but only in a limited proportion. When 

 highly rectified, it requires ten parts of 

 waterfor its solution ; and this is a proper- 

 ty by which we are enabled to determine 

 its purity, as, if more soluble, it contains 

 either water or alcohol. It is soluble in 

 alcohol in every proportion. 



Sulphuric ether exerts no sensible ac- 

 tion on the fixed alkalies or earths. It 

 unites with ammonia by distillation. 



Neither does it act on the metals ; but 

 it is capable of decomposing the saline 

 combinations of those that have a weak 

 affinity to oxygen, by attracting that 

 principle. Thus, muriate of gold dis- 

 solved in it is gradually decomposed, 

 and the gold precipitated in its metallic 

 form. 



On the simple inflammables its action 

 is somewhat similar to that of alcohol. 

 It dissolves sulphur, as Favre has shown, 

 one ounce of ether dissolving about 25 

 grains; the solution has a strong sul- 

 phurous smell and taste ; it is less soluble 

 in water than pure ether, and deposits 

 sulphur as the ether volatilizes. ("Ni- 

 cholson's Journal," vol. xiii. p. 69.) Eth- 

 er likewise dissolves a small proportion 

 of phosphorus; this solution, like the 



VOL. V. 



phosphuretted alcohol, is decomposed by 

 water; but does not, like it, appear lumi- 

 nous during the decomposition. 



Sulphuric ether is a solvent of many 

 of the vegetable proximate principles, 

 as the essential oils, camphor, and resins. 

 It is also, as has already been remarked, 

 the most powerful solvent of caoutchouc. 



In medicine it is employed as a diffusi- 

 ble stimulant. 



Nitric Ether. The action of nitric acid 

 on alcohol is so violent, that the formation 

 of nitric ether is extremely difficult, and 

 requires considerable precaution. One 

 part of the acid may be added gradually 

 to three parts of alcohol without any 

 risk ; and after standing for some days, 

 to allow of their reciprocal action, heat 

 may be applied, when a portion of nitric 

 ether that has been formed distils over, 

 with a quantity of unchanged alcohol. 

 A preparation of this kind has been long 

 known in pharmacy, under the name of 

 sweet spirit of nitre. But when the pro- 

 portion of acid is increased, the action 

 becomes very violent ; a quantity of aerial 

 fluid is suddenly formed, and disengaged 

 at each addition ; and it requires parti- 

 cular arrangements, to admit of so much 

 acid being added, as is sufficient to 

 convert the whole of the alcohol into 

 ether. 



The method proposed by Navier is, to 

 put into a strong earthenware bottle 

 twelve parts of alcohol, and immerse it 

 in water or ice ; eight parts of nitrous acid 

 are to be added in successive portions, 

 mixing them by agitation at each addi- 

 tion ; the bottle is well corked, and tied 

 over, and is put in a cool place. At the 

 end of six days the cork is to be perfo- 

 rated, to allow a quantity of gaseous fluid 

 that has been formed, and is retained by 

 compression, to escape. The bottle is 

 then uncorked, the liquid poured into a 

 funnel, and the acid liquor beneath allow- 

 ed to run off from the ether which swims 

 above. 



An ingenious method, somewhat simi- 

 lar, but less hazardous, was employed by 

 Dr. Black. He first poured into a strong 

 flint glass bottle six ounces of alcohol ; 

 then, by a funnel, the tube of which reach- 

 ed to the bottom of the bottle, he poured 

 in two ounces of water, gently, so that it 

 did not mix with the alcohol, but raised it 

 above it ; and, lastly, he poured in four 

 ounces of nitrous acid in the same man- 

 ner, so that the small column of water 

 was interposed between it and the alco- 

 hol. The phial was set aside for some 





