BULLETIN 201. 



THE DETERIORATION AND ASSAY OF SPIRIT OF 

 NITROUS ETHER. 

 H. H. Hanson and A. K. Burkk. 

 Spirit of Nitrous Ether, commonly called Sweet Spirit of 

 Nitre, an alcoholic solution of ethyl nitrite, has been for a cen- 

 tury and a half, or more, a preparation of importance in medi- 

 cine. Strictly speaking, the preparation as it is now made is 

 somewhat different from the original Sweet Spirit of Nitre. 

 Different methods have been used in its preparation and dif- 

 ferent names have T)een applied to the product. At the present 

 time it may be made in this country according to the method 

 given in the eighth revision of the United States Pharmaco- 

 poeia (1900), or it may be prepared by diluting concentrated 

 nitrous ether which may be purchased for the purpose in 

 small sealed tubes or bottles. 



De;te:ktoration. 

 From the first it has been recognized as a very unstable com- 

 pound, liable to deterioration and decomposition unless kept 

 under the most favorable conditions. Upon standing, the- 

 ethyl nitrite (upon which this preparation is supposed to de- 

 pend for its efficienc)^ gradually decreases in amount and, at 

 the same time, undesirable compounds are, and even dangerous 

 compounds may be, formed. The following list of possible 

 decomposition products is taken from a well known authority;* 

 Aldehyde, paraldehyde, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitrate, nitrous acid,, 

 acetic acid, ethyl oxide, ethyl formate, ethyl oxalate, cyanogen 

 compounds, glyoxal. glyoxalic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid,, 

 saccharic acid, and nitro ethane. In order to reduce the liabil- 

 ity of decomposition to the lowest degree the United States- 

 Pharmacopoeia directs that the preparation be kept in "small,, 

 well-stoppered, dark, amber-colored vials, in a cool place, 

 remote from lights or fire." In order to test the value of these' 

 directions three lots were prepared from tubes of concentrated 



Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis Vol. I, p. 194. 



