143 



seemed to be overlooked by Liebig, Kane, and others in their subse- 

 quent publications. 



Dr. Hare attached the more importance to his success in producing 

 the ether which was the subject of his communication ; since, agree- 

 ably to Liebig, no such compound exists, and it is to be inferred that 

 efforts to produce it had heretofore failed. It was presumed that 

 this would excite no surprise, when the difference was considered be- 

 tween the consequences of the reaction of nitric acid with pyroxylic 

 spirit, and with alcohol. 



The liquid last mentioned is now viewed as a hydrated oxide of 

 ethyl, while pyroxylic spirit is viewed as a hydrated oxide of methyl. 

 When alcohol is presented to nitric acid, a reciprocal decomposition 

 ensues. The acid loses two atoms of oxygen, which by taking two 

 atoms of hydrogen from a portion of the alcohol, transforms it into 

 aldehyd ; while the hyponitrous acid, resulting inevitably from the 

 partial deoxydizement of the nitric acid, unites with the base of the re- 

 maining part of the alcohol. But when pyroxylic spirit is presented 

 to nitric acid, this acid, without decomposition, combines with methyl, 

 the base of this hydrate; so that, as no hyponitrous acid can be 

 evolved, no hyponitrite can be produced. Thus in the case of the one 

 there can be no ethereal hyponitrite, in that of the other, no ethereal 

 nitrate. 



Dr. Hare regretted that Liebig should not have been informed of 

 the improved process for hyponitrous ether, to which he had referred 

 in commencing his communication. Instead of recommending a re- 

 sort to that process, it was advised that the fumes, resulting from the 

 reaction of nitric acid with fecula, should be passed into alcohol, and 

 the resulting vapour condensed by means of a tube surrounded by a 

 freezing mixture. 



This process Dr. Hare had repeated, and found the product very 

 inferior in quantity and purity to that resulting from the employment 

 of a hyponitrite. In this process, nascent hyponitrous acid, as libe- 

 rated from a base, is brought into contact with the hydrated oxide. 

 In the process recommended by Liebig, evidently this contact could 

 not take place ; since it was well known that hyponitrous acid could 

 not be obtained by subjecting fecula and nitric acid to distillation, 

 and condensing the aeriform products.* 



* The process alluded to is as follows: — Seven parts of acid, eight parts of 

 alcohol, fourteen parts of water, and fourteen of hyponitrite being prepared, 

 add seven parts of water to the salt and seven to the acid, and allow the mix- 

 ture to cool. The saline solution and alcohol are introduced into a tubulated 



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