J 900.] P. C. Ray — Mercurous Nitrite and its Derivatives. 479 



end of the condenser was connected with two tall cylinders (See Fig.) 



Fig. shewing the formation of Ethyl Nitrite and its absorption by 



Alcohol. 



containing a measured volume of alcohol for the absorption of ethyl 

 nitrite. These cylinders were again kept immersed in ice-cooled water 

 of an average temperature of 10° C, that of the Laboratory varying 

 from 23° to 25° C. In this manner a concentrated solution of what is 

 called in the Pharmacopoeia Spiritus JEtheris Nitrosi, was obtained, the 

 strength of which was determined by Allen's method.* The yield of 

 ethyl nitrite was found to be 51 g. 



Exp. II. 94 g. of mercurous nitrite and 35 gms. of ethyl iodide 

 were digested as above. The yield of ethyl nitrite was 3"! g. 



Exp. III. In this case 138 g. of mercurous nitrite were digested 

 with 54 g. of ethyl iodide, yielding 5*2 g. of ethyl nitrite. 



It will thus be seen that the yield of ethyl nitrite is only a fraction 

 of what is demanded by theory. This is partly due to the reaction being 

 completed only during subsequent digestion on the oil bath, but chiefly 

 to the fact that when once a certain amount of mercurous iodide has 

 been superficially formed, a large proportion of the nitrite aggregates 

 into hard lumps into which the ethyl iodide can only slowly and with 

 difficulty penetrate. 



# Pharmaceutical Journal, 3rfl Series, Vol. XV, p. 673. 



