72 M. C. Lea on Triethylamine. 



that it miglit probably be found to extend to tlie other ethyl and 

 methyl bases. The result above stated affords a confirmation of 

 this view as regards the base now under examination. 



The most important points deducible from the above described 

 reactions may be summed up as follows : Towards solution of 

 aluminium, cadmium, nickel, protochlorid of cobalt and bichlorid 

 of tin, the behavior of triethylamine is the same as that of ethyl- 

 amine and diethylamine, and differs from that of ammonia. 

 With respect to zinc, the behavior of triethylamine resembles 

 that of diethylamine and differs from that of both ammonia and 

 ethylamine. In speaking of the reactions of diethylamine, I 

 pointed out that the oxyds of silver and copper were the only 

 ones redissolved by all three bases, ammonia, ethylamine and 

 diethylamine. We now see that only one, silver, is dissolved by 

 all four, including that here investigated. 



Extending the comparison to methylamine and denoting by 

 (W.), reactions observed and recorded by its discoverer, M. 

 Wurtz, with respect to that substance, we find that gold precipi- 

 tates redissolve in excess of methylamine, but not in excess of 

 triethylamine. Protochlorid of palladium is precipitated by 

 methylamine, and not by triethylamine. Alumina is precipitated 

 and redissolved by both. Zinc, silver, and copper precipitates t 

 are redissolved by excess of methylamine (W.) but are insoluble 

 in triethylamine. With respect to cadmium, nickel, and cobalt, 

 the precipitates from solutions of these metals are insoluble in 

 methylamine (W.) and in triethylamine. 



Finally we observe that those reactions which may be consid- 

 ered as being eminently characteristic of triethylamine, are those 

 which it exhibits with gold and with copper. These and these 

 only, differ essentially from the reactions of ammonia, ethylamine, 

 diethylamine and methylamine respectively. That with gold 

 solution is especially interesting. 



Salts of Trteihylamme. 



Bydrochlorate. — Crystallizes with great facility in beantiful 

 snow-white feathery laminae. It is not in the least deliquescent 

 in tolerably dry air ; — a portion left exposed for several days m a 

 -watch glass did not exhibit the least tendency to liquify. Care- 

 fully heated on platinum foil, it disappears without leaving any 

 carbonaceous residue. 



The most curious property of this salt is its easy combustibility- 

 A portion of the dry salt readily ignites by contact with a lighted 

 match and burns with a livid green flame. 



Suhyhate.— Very soluble in water and alcohol. Exposed over 

 lumps of caustic soda, in vacuo, for some weeks, it solidifies to 

 an indistinctly crystalline mass. Heated on platinum foil, it 

 takes fire and burns with a scarcely luminous flame and yellow- 

 ish scintillations. 



