﻿120 Prof. J. A. Wauklyn on Ethylate of Sodium 



the resulting ethylate of sodium maintained for some time at 

 about 200° C. Weight of the product 3*862 grm. 



Found, Na per cent. . . =34-40 

 Theory =33*82 



The amount of alcohol given on distillation with water was 

 next estimated. Added 50 cubic centims. of water and distilled 

 off 32-713 grms., which had a specific gravity of 0-9868 at 16° C, 

 and which therefore consisted of 8*0 per cent, alcohol. Weight of 

 alcohol obtained =2*61 8 grms. Therefore the quantity of alco- 

 hol yielded by 100 parts of the substance is 67*7 parts. The 

 theory for ethylate of sodium requires 67 '65 parts. 



Further experiment has also shown that even a temperature of 

 290° C. is sustained by ethylate of sodium without decomposition. 



When ethylate of sodium is very strongly heated, viz. up to 

 dull redness, having ceased to evolve alcohol, it evolves no ap- 

 preciable quantity of liquid product, but carbonizes with evolu- 

 tion of a certain quantity of gas. A rough examination of the 

 gas showed the absence of olefines and of carbonic oxide. The 

 gas was of low specific gravity, and burnt with a not very lumi- 

 nous flame. It was apparently marsh- gas, or marsh-gas and 

 hydrogen. The residual solid product contained (as was made 

 out by titration) all the sodium in the state of metal, caustic, or 

 carbonate ; therefore no stable acid had resulted. 



The presence of free metallic sodium, or possibly Carbide of 

 sodium, in the residue was proved by the very violent efferves- 

 cence which the addition of water to the residue occasioned. 

 The presence of a considerable amount of carbonate was proved 

 by the evolution of carbonic acid which took place on making 

 the titration with standard acid. A considerable quantity of 

 black carbon separated on dissolving the product in water. 

 Weighings were made of the amount of sodium which was con- 

 verted into ethylate, and also of the total solid product left after 

 the heating to redness, as follows : — 



grms. 

 Sodium taken = 0*792 grm., equivalent to~\ __ 9 „ 4 n 

 to ethylate of sodium, C 2 H 5 NaO . . J ~ A '^ A 

 Residual solid product =1*588 



Therefore volatile product = *754 



A weighing was made of the black carbon got on treatment of 

 the solid residue with water and test acid, and after subsequent 

 washing and drying. 



Black carbon =0*216 grm. 



(There had been a slight loss of the black carbonaceous matter, 

 so that the number is only a rough approximation.) 



