﻿and E thy late of Potassium. 121 



Absolute ethylate of soda (Na C 2 II 5 0) is a perfectly white 

 amorphous solid. It is non-fusible, differing totally from the 

 crystals. Its specific gravity is very low ; it swims in ether. It 

 is almost insoluble in ether, 1000 parts of ether not dissolving 

 more than 2 or 3 parts of the ethylate. As has been hinted, it 

 becomes brown on exposure to the air; otherwise it may be 

 heated to a very high temperature, 275° C. (and probably much 

 higher), without losing its whiteness. 



With acetic ether or valerianic ether it behaves in a very in- 

 teresting manner. There is, first of all, combination, and after- 

 wards, between 100° and 200° C, an abundant disengagement 

 of alcohol. 



Ethvlate of sodium. Acetic ether. 

 C 2 H 4 Na H + C 2 H 5 C 2 H 3 



New compound. 



Alcohol. 



= C 2 H 4 Na"' C 2 H 3 + C 2 H 6 0. 



The new compounds (in the case of acetic ether an isomer of 

 butyrate of soda, and in the case of valerianic ether an isomer of 

 oenanthylate of soda) are being investigated. They appear to 

 yield alcohol and a salt of soda on being treated with water, 

 thus : — 



Isomer of butyrate of soda. 



/ A N Alcohol. Acetate of soda. 



C 2 H 4 Na'"0 C 2 H 3 + H 2 = C 2 ll 6 + NaO C 2 H 3 O. 



Potassium and Alcohol. 



Potassium reacts with extreme violence on alcohol. It forms 

 a compound consisting of ethylate of the metal and alcohol ; the 

 number of molecules of alcohol in combination with the ethy- 

 late has not been determined; but the existence of a compound 

 of the kind is made out. At a high temperature, towards 

 200° C, the absolute ethylate is produced. During the expul- 

 sion of the alcohol there is a marked difference in appearauce 

 between the potash- and the soda-compound, the potash-com- 

 pound remaining fusible at a much higher temperature than the 

 soda-compound. 



London Institution, 

 January 21, 1869. 



