MM. Friedel and Ladenburg on some Compounds of Silicon . 451 

 ether, assigning to it the rational formula 



€ 2 H 3 € 2 H 5 G 2 H 5 \ a 



G 2 H 5 J y * 



According to Lieben, this body, when treated with strong hy- 

 driodic acid, yields Methylated iodide of ethyle. From this it may 

 be expected that the biethylated ethylic alcohol will be obtained; 

 it will have the same composition as normal hexylic alcohol, but 

 doubtless not be identical with it. 



In a series of memoirs Wohler described several new com- 

 pounds of silicon endowed with highly remarkable properties. 

 Among these was one formed by the action of gaseous hydro- 

 chloric acid on crystallized silicon at a temperature below red- 

 ness. It forms a very volatile liquid, the vapour of which burns 

 in the air, and which is decomposed by water with formation of 

 a white substance, different from silicon, than which it contains 

 less oxygen. Wohler provisionally assigned to this body the 

 formula Si 2 Cl 3 + 2HCl (Si=21), or Si 6 CI 10 H 4 (Si =14). The 

 further investigation he called on others to undertake. 



Eriedel and Ladenburg have taken up the subject from the 

 point of view that the chloride in question was derived from 

 chloride of silicon by the substitution of an atom of hydrogen 

 for one of silicon. These anticipations have been realized. After 

 preparing a considerable quantity of crude chloride, they have 

 succeeded in preparing from it the chloride in a state of purity. 

 By repeated fractional distillations they found its boiling-point 

 to be 34° instead of 42° C, which Wohler and Buff had found; 

 in other respects their observations of its properties confirmed 

 those which its discoverers had made. 



Analysis gave numbers which correspond to the formula 

 SiCl 3 H, which is confirmed by the determination of the vapour- 

 density. 



When this body is caused to act upon absolute alcohol, it 

 yields an ethereal liquid of an agreeable odour resembling that 

 of silicic ether, some of which is formed at the same time. This 

 new body has the boiling-point 134° C, that of silicate of ethyle 



being 165° C. It has the formula Si € 6 H 16 3 , or /|i™ 8 }o 8 .. 



This body is to the inflammable chloride what silicate of ethyle 

 is to the ordinary chloride of silicon. 



The body gives rise to a curious reaction. When a fragment 

 of sodium is thrown upon it a gentle disengagement of gas com- 

 mences, due probably to the action of sodium on the alcohol libe- 

 rated from the ether by moisture ; when this has ceased, on the 

 application of a gentle heat there is a regular disengagement of 



2 G 2 



