AS REPORT—1868. 
and its production from acetic ether and sodium admits of the following formu- 
lation :— 
Acetic cther. Ethylate of soda. Sodium triacety]. 
3C, TL, O E Na Na 
Cit O + Na = OIE Ove}: (C,H,0)f « 
No other equation is capable of rendering a rational account of the production of 
C, Hf, O, Na from acetic ether and sodium without necessitating the assumption that 
there is evolution of hydrogen. This equation affirms that 3 equivalents of ethy- 
late of soda are complementary products to 1 molecule of the new compound ; also 
that 4 equivalents of sodium are required to give 1 equivalent of sodium in the form 
of new salt. The following experiments accord with these conditions. The author 
took 2:4 germs. of sodium and dissolved it in excess of acetic ether in presence of dry 
common ether sed as a diluent. When the reaction was over, water was added, 
by which means of course ethylate of soda would be transformed into caustic soda 
and alcohol, more or less of the caustic alkali becoming acetate of soda by action 
on the excess of acetic ether. The difference between the total amount of sodium 
employed and the sum of the amount of sodium found as caustic soda and as acetate 
of soda gives the quantity of soda forming the new compound. The following is a 
tabular statement :— 
girms. 
Sodium found caustic ........ = 1:56 
4 as acetate ...... = 0:24 
bi as new compound = 0-60 
Sodium employed...... 2:40 
Ratio of sodium employed to sodium as new compound :— 
240 : 0:60, 
or A aio ells 
A, similar experiment with potassium and without common ether as a diluent 
furnished an analogous result :— 
grms 
Potassium found caustic ........ = 1-59 
cr as acetate ...... = 0:28 
F as new compound = 0:64 
Potassium employed = 2°51 
p20} 
2-51 : 0°64 :: 3:92: 1. 
Sodium triacetyl, C,H, 0, Na, admits of being regarded in different lights. For 
instanee, it may be written thus, (C, H, 0), Na'", wherein the sodium is represented 
as being triatomic, or it may be written thus, 
C, H, O 
C,H; | | ) 
OO 
C,H, ! ! 
Na ): 
wherein the three equivalents of acetyl are fused together to consitute a monatomic 
triacetyl, C,H, O,. Hydride of triacetyl, which is very well described by Geuther, 
is obtained by decomposing sodium triacetyl with glacial acetic acid, and is an oily 
liquid rather heavier than water; the author has prepared some of it. The decom- 
position noticed by Geuther which it undergoes in contact with strong acids or 
alkalies, and in which the elements of water are taken up, is very interesting :— 
Acetone. Alcohol. 
C,H, 0 C, 11, 0 We 
O.HaDb i ag cole apes a 
CHAO hy stro 4+ CO. 
