OR PERCHLORIC ETHER. 75 



sinks* It explodes 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 alcoholic solution into a small porce- 

 lain capsule, and adding an equal volume 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, sup- 

 ported by a wire. After the water hjis drained off, the drop of ether remaining 

 at the bottom of the filter may be exploded either by approaching it to an ig- 

 nited body, or by the blow of a hammer. We are induced to believe that, in 

 explosive violence, it is not surpassed by any substance known in chemistry. 

 By the explosion of the smallest drop^ an open porcelain plate will be broken 

 into fragments, and by that of a larger quantity, be reduced to powder. In 

 consequence of the force with which it projects the minute fragments of any 

 containing vessel in which it explodes, it is necessary that the operator should 

 wear gloves, and a close mask, furnished with thick glass-plates at the aper- 

 tures for the eyes, and perform his manipulations with the intervention of a 

 moveable wooden screen.* 



In common with other ethers, the perchlorate of ethule is insoluble in water, 

 but soluble in alcohol; and its solution in the latter, when sufficiently dilute, 

 burns entirely away without explosion. It may be kept for a length of time 

 unchanged, even when in contact with water; but the addition of this fluid, 

 when employed to precipitate it from its alcoholic solution, causes it partially 

 to be decomposed. Potassa, dissolved in alcohol, and added to the alcoholic 

 solution, produces, immediately, an abundant precipitate of the perchlorate of 

 that base, and, when added in sufficient quantity, decomposes the ether en- 

 tirely. It would appear, therefore, impracticable to form either perchlorovi- 

 nates or perchlorovinic acid. 



We have subjected the perchlorate of ethule to the heat of boiling water 

 without explosion or ebullition. 



It may be observed that this is the first ether formed by the combination of 

 an inorganic acid containing more than three atoms of oxygen with the oxide 

 of ethule, and that the chlorine and oxygen in the whole compound are just 

 sufficient to form chlorohydric acid, water and carbonic oxide with the hydro- 

 geu and carbon. 



* Having suffered severely on several occasions from the unexpected explosion of this substance,, 

 we would earnestly recommend the operator not to neglect the precautions mentioned above. 



