192 Miscellanies. 
MISCELLANIES. 
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
1. Abstracts of the Researches of European Chemists; prepared for 
this Journal by J. Lawrence Smita, M. D. of Charleston, S. C. 
Silicic Ether, by M. Epztman, (Comp. Rend. Aug. 1844, p. 399.)— 
If absolute alcohol be added with precaution to chloride of silicon, a vio- 
lent action takes place, with an abundant escape of hydrochloric acid 
gas, and a considerable diminution of temperature; when the alcohol 
added exceeds by a little the quantity of chloride used, the escape of gas 
ceases, and the temperature of the liquid rises. If the mixture be dis- 
tilled, there passes over first a small quantity of hydrochloric ether, and 
then the greater part of the liquid distills between 320° and 338° Fah. ; 
this is laid aside, and the distillation terminated at 572° Fah. ‘There 
remains in the retort a mere trace of silica. 
The first product, when rectified, has a fixed point of ebullition between 
323° and 325° Fah., a penetrating ethereal odor, strong peppery taste, 
and a density of 0982; it is insoluble in water, but by long contact with 
it is slowly decomposed, perfectly neutral in its reaction, dissolves in alco- 
hol and ether in all proportions; the alcoholic solution is decomposed by 
alkalies, with a deposition of gelatinous silica; a few drops thrown into a 
red hot platinum crucible burn with a white flame, depositing silica. 
Upon analysis it proves to be a silicate of the oxide of ethyle, having for 
its formula— 
SiO? 3C4 H5O, (with Berzelius’s equivalent for silica, 22°1.) 
or 8103C+* H5O, (with Dumas’s equivalent for silica, 7°38.) 
By fractional distillation of the liquid that passed over between 338° 
and 572° Fah. and analyzing, it is found that the proportion of carbon 
and hydrogen remains unchanged, the silica constantly increasing. That 
portion of liquid distilled at about 572° Fah. is colorless, possesses a fee- 
ble odor, and is of a different taste from the first ether; its density is 
1°035; the action of water and of the alkalies is the same as upon the 
other. Its formula is, (SiO)? C+ H® O. 
From this it would appear that silicic acid has at least two ethers—the 
first fact of the kind connected with the history of the ethers, and which 
corresponds to the numerous silicates of different degrees of saturation 
found in the mineral’kingdom. The following is the manner in which 
the alcohol -and chloride of silicon react to form the two ethers. 
Si Cl+-C* H® O?=H Cl-++SiO C4 H® O, first ether. 
(Si Cl)?-++-2(C# H® O7)=C* H® Cl+-H Cl-++(Si O)? C4 H5 O, second 
ether. 
