SYNTHETICAL EESEAECHES ON ETHEES. 



39 



portion of sodium-compound dissolved in it increased ; but the temperature ought not 

 to be allowed to rise above 130° C. When the acetic ether ceases to distil at this tem- 

 perature, the proportion of sodium dissolved is not much below one atom for each 

 atomic proportion of acetic ether employed, and it was not found advantageous to push 

 the reaction further. The contents of the flask were now submitted to the action of 

 ethyl iodide, for which purpose they were transferred whilst still liquid to an iron 

 digester, and mixed with a quantity of ethyl iodide equivalent to the amount of sodium 

 dissolved. The digester was then exposed to a temperature of 100° C. in a steam- 

 bath for several hours, and after being allowed to cool, water in considerable bulk was 

 introduced, and the whole submitted to distillation in an oil-bath. There first came 

 over a large quantity of ethylic ether mixed with some acetic ether that had escaped 



Kg. 1. 



-c 



decomposition. As the temperature in the interior of the digester rose above 100°, the 

 distillate began to separate into an aqueous and an ethereal portion, and further quan- 

 tities of water were repeatedly added until no more ethereal liquid distilled. The 

 ethereal, separated from the aqueous portion, presented the appearance of a light straw- 

 coloured oil, possessing a pleasant and fragrant odour. It was washed with water, then 

 dried over calcium chloride, and submitted to fractional distillation, by which traces of 

 alcohol, acetic ether, and ethyl iodide were effectually removed from the other products, 



g2 



