TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 47 
during the progress of the reaction. The sodium dissolved without any evolution 
of gas. The experiment was repeated with the same result. 
Valerianate of Ethyl and Sodium.—There is not the slightest evolution of gas 
when these materials act on one another. f 
Benzoate of Ethyl and Sodium.—Pure benzoic ether and sodium and common 
ether were sealed up and heated in the water-bath. There wasaction, but no evo- 
lution of gas. 
From these experiments it is abundantly evident that free hydrogen forms no part 
of the product of the action of sodium on the ethers of the fatty and aromatic acids. 
All the modes of explaining the action of sodium on acetic ether adopted by 
Geuther, Frankland, and Duppa must therefore, in the author’s opinion, be aban- 
doned. The memoirs of these chemists agree in representing the action of sodium 
as consisting in the evolution of an equivalent of hydrogen for every equivalent of 
sodium consumed. Thus Geuther writes the following equation to express the 
action of sodium on acetic ether :— 
Acetic ether. Ethylate of sodium. New body. 
2C,H,O, + Na, = NaC,H,O + C,H,O;Na.+ H.. 
Frankland and Duppa write :— 
40,H,O, + Na, = 20,H,O + 2C,H,O,Na + H,. 
Also :— 
ve 2C,H,0, + Na, = C.H,O + C,H,0,Na, + Hs. 
so :-— 
2C,H,0O, + Na, = 2C,H,NaO, + H,. 
Also :— 
C,H,0O, + Na, = C,H, Na,O; + H.,. 
All these equations affirm the evolution of as many equivalents of hydrogen as 
there are equivalents of sodium consumed. From this view the author dissented. 
In order to account for the different results given by the eminent chemists just 
referred to, it will perhaps be enough to make the remark that they appear to 
have omitted to measure the equivalent of hydrogen, which nevertheless ap- 
pears in their equations*. The author on former occasions represented the action 
of sodium on valerianic ether as consisting in the replacement of the acid-forming 
radical by sodium and the generation of free valeryl or sodium-valeryl, according 
to circumstances. A mode of representation of this kind will have to be adopted 
by chemists for the explanation of the reaction between sodium and acetic ether. 
Geuther, Frankland, and Duppa agree (here the agreement rests on an expe- 
rimental basis) in representing a body having the formula C, H, O, Na as a 
product of the action of sodium on acetic ether. Geuther obtained and analyzed it, 
and also the hydrogen, ethyl, and methyl derivatives of it. Healso prepared some 
derivatives containing various heavy metals; and he investigated quantitatively a 
very interesting decomposition in which water plays a part, and in which acetone, 
alcohol, and carbonic acid are produced. Frankland and Duppa have prepared the 
ethyl derivative. Altogether itis well made out that C, H, O, Na is produced, and 
that it is the main, if not the only, new compound directly resulting from the action 
of sodium on acetic ether. Very complicated names have been given to it, viz. 
“ sathylen-dimethylencarbonsaure-natron ” by Geuther, and “ethylic sodacetone- 
carbonate’ by Frankland and Duppa. On making an inspection of the formula. 
it will be seen that it is equal to three equivalents of acetyl and one of sodium, 
CTO; Ny = (Fast . 
Na( ? 
* More than twenty-four years ago Lowig and Weidmann inyestigated the action of po- 
tassium on acetic ether, and arrived at the result that ethylate of potash and a potash-salt of 
anew organic acid is the product, and that no gasis given off. (Ann. der Chem. und Pharm. 
vol. xxxvi. p. 297.) In 1864 (Journ. Chem. Soe. vol. ii. p. 571) I called attention to these 
old researches and confirmed the result in a general way. -I showed that sodium and acetic 
ether might be heated in a bath, the temperature of which was 130° C., without any consider- 
able evolution of gas of any kind. 
