﻿Hydrated Oxide of Ethylene -sodium. 359 



above 200° C. The product was then cooled and weighed. Its 

 weight was 4*4645 grms., being a little above the weight of 

 the product completely freed from alcohol. (The theoretical 

 quantity of Na C 2 H 5 is 4-0844.) It was not considered ne- 

 cessary to drive off the last trace of alcohol in this instance. A 

 current of dry sulphuretted hydrogen was next transmitted over 

 the product, no external heat being applied, but considerable 

 heat being generated by the action of the gas on the substance. 

 After a while the passage of the gas was stopped, and the appa- 

 ratus with its contents cooled and subsequently weighed. Weight 

 of contents = 5*76grms. The gas was again transmitted, and again 

 generated heat by its action on the substance. Again the appa- 

 ratus was cooled and weighed. Weight of contents =6*175 grms. 

 Again sulphuretted hydrogen was transmitted, this time there 

 being no generation of heat. Weighed again : weight = 6*137 

 grms., showing that the action of the sulphuretted hydrogen was 

 complete. 



This experiment indicates that one molecule of sulphuretted 

 hydrogen combines with one molecule of hydrated oxide of etby- 

 lene-sodium. 



Na "'i() 2 H 4 + H2 S = Na ° 2 H? S °" 



By experiment, 1*3815 grm. of sodium have yielded 6*137 

 grms. of product; therefore the percentage of sodium in this 

 product equals 22*51. The theoretical percentage of sodium in 

 NaC 2 H 7 SOis22*55. 



The compound Na C 2 H 7 S 0, a nearly white solid, the formula 

 of which I write thus, 



roc 2 H 5 



Na'"-J H 

 LSH, 



is endowed with considerable stability, having during the process 

 of its formation undergone a considerable spontaneous heating 

 without damage. At 100° C, however, it is gradually decom- 

 posed into alcohol and sulph-hydrate of sodium, thus: — 



3Na "{SJ H5 =2 C2 g 5 }0 + H^ S ^ 



The 6*137 grms. of product, on being' heated to 100° C. in 

 the water-bath for some time, lost alcohol (2 grms. of which was 

 condensed and weighed), 3*901 grms. of solid residue remaining. 

 This residue was lastly heated up to 200° C. for some time, 

 when it lost more alcohol and ultimately weighed 3*459 grms. 

 Calculating the percentage of sodium in the 3*459 grms. of pro- 



