M. C. Lea on Triethylamine. 69 



Corresponding to, per cent platinuna, - 39-02 

 Theory requires, 39-29 



The number found falls a little below the theoretical propor- 

 tion, and may indicate that a trace of triethylamine remained in 

 the aqueous solution. I may however remark that this slight 

 discrepancy is within the error of a careful analysis, particularly 

 with substances whose analysis requires so much circumspection 

 as these. Two analyses of chloroplatinate of ethylamine of 

 which the alkaloid had been separated by picric acid gave re- 

 spectively 39-02 and 39-23, the first of which numbers is identi- 

 cal with that above found. 



Ether appears therefore to afford a convenient mode of sepa- 

 rating ethylamine and triethylamine, after diethylamine has been 

 eliminated by means of picric acid. This is a necessary condi- 

 tion : when observed, the process gives, so far as my experiments 

 go, good results. 



Properties of Triethylamine. 

 Triethylamine is an oily fluid lighter than water, and float- 

 ing on its surface when the water present is insufficient in quan- 

 tity to hold it in solution. When therefore the crystallized 

 faydrochlorate is added to a concentrated solution of caustic 

 soda, the triethylamine separates and rises to the surface. It 

 lias an agreeable ammoniacal odor, which appeared to me to be 

 pleasanter and more aromatic than those of ethylamine and die- 

 thylamine. This however is a matter on which it is difficult to 

 ^peak positively, as the odor of ammonias appears to be influenced 

 by adventitious circumstances. Stas found the oder of perfectly 

 pure ammonia prepared by him, to be quite different from that 

 ordinarily recognized as characteristic of the substance. 

 . It is not very soluble in water, but emulsifies very easily with 

 1^- When a stratum of triethylamine is resting upon the surface 

 of a saturated aqueous solution, a very slight agitation is sufficient 

 to produce a complete emulsion, and a considerable time elapses 

 before the stratum separates again. It is capable of acting under 

 Some circumstances as a reducing agent, separating gold in the 

 JJietallic state with production of aldehyd, as will be described 

 i»irther on, but unites with chromic acid without decomposition. 



Reactions of Triethylamine with solutions of metallic bases. 

 The following reactions were obtained with a saturated aque- 

 0^ solution of pure triethylamine : 

 Zirconium, sulphate of Zirconia, White precipitate, insoluble in excess of 



precipitant. 

 White precipitate, dissolving readily a 



I, tersulphate alumina, 



completely in excess of the precipitant. 



