64 Perchlorate of the Oxide of Ethule, Sfc. 



to afford a full view of the different parts of the apparatus, should 

 be erected in front of it, and strings passed around the screen and 

 attached to a bar traversing on a pivot, and supporting an argand 

 spirit lamp, by which heat is communicated to the oil-bath, so as 

 to enable the flame of the lamp to be removed from or applied to 

 the apparatus, according to the indications of the thermometer, 

 without exposing the person of the operator. After the heat has 

 reached 212° F., below which the salts employed do not react on 

 each other, it should be raised very gradually, and the distillation 

 finished below 340° F. Under these circumstances but little 

 danger is to be apprehended from the retort, but the ether in the 

 receiver must be treated with the greatest caution, since it has 

 exploded in our hands in attempting to remove it with a pipette 

 from the stratum of water which covers it. This water, there- 

 fore, should be removed by the cautious use of strips of blotting 

 paper, moistened at the end, and introduced into the tube em- 

 ployed as a receiver. 



To avoid the danger attendant on the management of the ether 

 in its pure state, it may be received in strong alcohol, since it is 

 not explosive when dissolved in alcohol. If the experiment be 

 performed with seventy grains of sulphate of barytes, from one 

 to two drachms of absolute alcohol will be found sufficient for 

 this purpose. By the addition of an equal volume of water, the 

 ether may subsequently be separated from this solution, in small 

 quantities, for the purpose of examination. But, in this case, a 

 loss of ether is sustained by the decomposing influence of the 

 water employed. ♦■«, 



The perchlorate of ethule obtained in this way is a transpa- 

 rent, colorless liquid, possessing a peculiar, though agreeable 

 smell, and a very sweet taste, which, on subsiding, leaves a biting 

 impression on the tongue, resembling that of the oil of cinnamon. 

 It is heavier than water, through which it rapidly sinks. It ex- 

 plodes by ignition, friction, or percussion, and sometimes without 

 any assignable cause. Its explosive properties may be shown, 

 with but little danger, by pouring a small portion of the alco- 

 holic solution into a porcelain capsule, and adding an equal vol- 

 ume of water. The ether will collect in a drop at the bottom, 

 and may be subsequently separated by pouring off the greater 

 part of the water, and throwing the rest on a moistened filter, 

 supported by a wire. After the water has drained off", the drop 



