Action of Chloride of Lime on Alcohol. 135 
To be certain of this, I mixed a solution of chloride of lime, very 
concentrated, with alcohol ; the mixture grew warm and an odor of 
chlorine was manifest; in raising it to ebullition, an abundant white 
precipitate was formed and a liquid passed over, = a very sweet 
odor and a sugary tas 
The matter endtrares in the retort was alkaline, and the precipi- 
tate effervesced with acids. It was carbonate of lime, mixed with a 
little caustic lime. Not the least portion of carbonic acid was dis- 
engaged during the action. 
The distilled product being redistilled or rectified, a weak alcohol 
remained in the retort, and the distilled fluid had a more penetrating 
ethereal odor. The following process will ensure a notable quantity 
in a state of purity. 
Into a retort of the capacity of about a gallon, introduce a mixture 
of 1 part alcohol at 33°, and from 30 to 32 parts of very concen-— 
trated liquid chloride of lime, (1 part, by weight, of chloride and 5 - 
of water ;) attach a receiver, which must be kept cool, apply heat 
to the retort and as soon as ebullition commences, withdraw the f ; 
as the distillation will then proceed without it. ‘The process must 
be stopped when no more ethereal fluid passes over. 
- In the receiver are two distinct strata; the heavier is the new 
ether,—the lighter is a solution of that substance in weak alcohol. 
The whole is to be shaken with a little mercury, to absorb a small 
quantity of free chlorine ; it is then placed in a retort, to which are 
added the rinsings of the receiver, with a little water, and distilled 
afresh from the heat of a water bath. The ether is thus obtained, 
with a supernatant fluid of weak etherized alcohol, which may be re- 
served for a new rectification. 
The new ether is not pure. The alcohol which it contains may 
be removed, by agitating it several times with water, and finally al- 
lowing the water to remain in contact, several hours, with plenty of 
dry muriate of lime, and then distilling at a temperature not exceed- 
i 0° F’. 
- It is proper to observe, that the chloride of lime which is used in 
the making of this ether, must be limpid, or at least must contain 
but very little lime in suspension, otherwise the mass will swell very 
much. J have endeavored to avoid such a mass of fluid, by using 
acream of the chloride of lime, but it was almost impossible to 
conduct the distillation. : 
