﻿and Ethylate of Potassium. 119 



The 11-192 grms. of Na C 2 H 5 0, 3 (C 2 H 6 0) of experiment II. 

 were gradually heated to 130° C. in the oil-bath, maintained at 

 that temperature, and then raised to 140° C. The following are 

 the numbers : — 



grms. 

 Weight of sodium employed . . 1-160 

 Weight of product at 100° C. . 11-192 

 Weight of product at 140° C. . 4-466 



from which is deduced, percentage of sodium in product at 

 140° = 25*98. The theory for absolute ethylate is, percentage 

 of sodium = 33*82. It appears, therefore, that there was still 

 about 23 per cent, of alcohol in the product; and from this cir- 

 cumstance it may be concluded that the retention of alcohol by 

 ethylate of sodium is very obstinate. 



On raising the temperature considerably higher the expulsion 

 of alcohol is complete, and absolute ethylate remains behind, as 

 is shown by the following : — 



grm. 



Weight of sodium employed 0*584 



Weight of product of action on alcohol after heatingl , ~ Q , 

 for some time from 190° to 205° C. . . . J 1 ™ 4 



In a second experiment, in which the temperature of the oil- 

 bath was high but not measured, the quantities were : — 



grm. 

 Sodium taken .... 0*498 

 Ethylate obtained . . . 1*453 



We have, therefore, 



Exp. I. Percentage of sodium in product =34*48 



Exp. II. „ „ „ =34*28 



Theory for NaC 2 H 5 =33*82 



At about 200° C, therefore, pure absolute ethylate of sodium 

 may be obtained from the crystals. This result was confirmed 

 by an observation of the degree of alkalinity of the product 

 which had been exposed to a temperature of 200° C. The 1*6.94 

 grm. which had been obtained from 0*584 grm. of sodium 

 (Exp. I.) was placed in water, which of course resolved it into 

 alcohol and caustic soda. It was then titrated with normal sul- 

 phuric acid. It saturated 25*5 cubic centims. of the acid, show- 

 ing 0-5865 grm. of sodium in a state of causticity. All the 

 sodium, therefore, was caustic; no organic acid, therefore, had 

 been produced by the action of the high temperature on the 

 ethylate of sodium. A still more severe test of the stability of 

 the ethylate at 200° C. is afforded by the following experiment. 



1*3285 grm. of sodium was dissolved in absolute alcohol, and 



