ETHER. 



time in a cool place : the water attracted 

 the alcohol at the one surface, the acid at 

 the other, and thus brought them very 

 gradually together, so as to admit of 

 their reciprocal action without violence. 

 At the end of a few months they were 

 completely mixed, and nitric ether form- 

 ed, which floated above, was withdrawn 

 and rectified by distillation. 



The theory of the formation of nitric 

 ether is as obscure as that of sulphuric 

 ether. It is ascertained, however, that 

 even from the commencement of the pro- 

 cess the acid is decomposed; nitric oxide 

 gas is disengaged ; and Pelletier found 

 that the decomposition was complete, ni- 

 tric acid not being discoverable, either in 

 the liquor which passed over, or in the 

 residuum. 



It is also proved, that in the formation 

 of nitric ether the alcohol suffers decom- 

 position, as in the residual liquor oxalic 

 and acetic acids are formed. There is no 

 deposition, however, of carbonaceous mat- 

 ter, as there is in the formation of sulphu- 

 ric ether, the residual liquor being quite 

 transparent and of a light colour. It ap- 

 pears to follow, therefore, from these 

 facts, that in the formation of nitric ether 

 part of the elements of the alcohol com- 

 bine with oxygen from the nitric acid, and 

 form oxalic and acetic acids ; carbonic 

 acid gas too is formed and disengaged, as 

 Pelletier found, in considerable quantity, 

 and much of the nitric acid mixed with 

 nitric oxide and nitrogen gases. (M- 

 moires de Chimie, torn. i. p. 138.) 



It is difficult, however, to determine in. 

 what manner these facts are to be com- 

 bined, so as to give with precision the 

 theory of the formation of nitric ether : 

 nor is it very apparent, whether any of 

 the elements of the nitric acid enter into 

 its composition, or whether they are en- 

 tirely disengaged during the process. It 

 might be supposed, that it must contain 

 more carbon than sulphuric ether, as none 

 is deposited during its formation ; but we 

 are not certain what quantity is carried off 

 in the state of carbonic acid. 



Nitric ether has some resemblance in 

 its properties to sulphuric ether. Like it, 

 it is light and volatile, and has been said, 

 when highly rectified, to have these qua- 

 lities even in a higher degree than sulphu- 

 ric ether. It is also inflammable, burns 

 with an enlarged flame, and is said to de- 

 posit more charcoal. It is soluble in 

 water and in alcohol. Its odour is strong-, 

 though scarcely so agfeeable as that of 

 sulphuric ether; in the state, however, 

 of what has been named dulcified spirit 



of nitre, it is more fragrant. Its colour 

 is usually yellow ; but this, as well pro- 

 bably as some of its other qualities, ap- 

 pears rather to be owing to the presence 

 of nitric acid, surcharged perhaps with 

 nitric oxide. 



Muriatic ether. Pelletier proposes the 

 following process to form muriatic ether : 

 place a retort in a sand-bath, and con- 

 nect it with a glass balloon, and two of 

 Woulfe's bottles : put into the bottle 100 

 parts of muriate of soda, perfectly dry, 

 and into the balloon and bottles the same 

 quantity of alcohol. The joinings being 

 luted," 50 parts of sulphuric acid are to 

 be poured on the salt, and the operation 

 is left to proceed iii the cold for five or 

 six hours. A moderate heat is then to 

 be gradually applied. The muriatic acid 

 gas passes over, and is condensed by the 

 alcohol. The whole of this liquor is 

 then put into a retort, with twenty parts 

 of oxide of manganese in fine powder ; 

 and there is put into the receiver and 

 bottles a solution of pure potash. It is 

 distilled by a gentle heat : the muriatic 

 ether passes over, and the reaction of 

 any excess of oxymuriatic acid gas upon 

 it, which would change it to oil, is pre- 

 vented by the alkali. The ether is then 

 to be rectified, by mixing it with twice its 

 bulk of water, and distilling it by a very 

 gentle heat. 



The properties of muriatic elher have 

 not been properly described, from the 

 difficulty of obtaining it pure. It is said 

 to be light, transparent, volatile, and in- 

 inflammable, emitting while burning a 

 pungent odour, and to have a styptic 

 taste. 



A process has been given by Boudet 

 for the preparation of phosphoric ether, 

 He mixed liquid phosphoric, acid of a 

 thick consistence and alcohol in equal 

 proportions, introduced the mixture into 

 a tubulated retort connected with a re- 

 ceiver, and with an Woulfe's bottle, 

 which was filled two-thirds with lime- 

 water : heat was applied, so as to cause 

 the mixture to boil ; a portion of un- 

 changed alcohol first distilled over ; this 

 was succeeded by a liquor having an 

 ethereal odour, mixed a little with that of 

 garlic : it reddened slightly the syrup of 

 violets: when rectified by distillation, 

 with the addition of carbonate of magne- 

 sia, the product was colourless, and had 

 an odour somewhat similar to that of sul- 

 phuric ether : it was volatile, and highly 

 inflammable, its combustion not being ac- 

 companied with any smoke. It floated 

 on the surface of water, but by agitation 



