222 



pears to afford some explanation of the failures of ]\Iiiller, Pouillet 

 and of the author in his early attempts to obtain evidence of current 

 force being manifested when a circuit was formed between an artery 

 and a vein in the living animal. 



4. " On anew Series of Organic Bodies containing Metals." By 

 Dr. E. Frankland, Professor of Chemistry, Owen's College, Man- 

 chester. Communicated by B. C. Brodie, Esq., F.R.S. Received 

 May 10, 1852. 



The author communicates in this memoir the continuation of his 

 researches, a preliminary announcement of which appeared several 

 years ago, upon a new series of organic compounds closely allied to 

 cacodyl in their composition and properties, and which, like that 

 body, are formed by the union of the alcohol radicals with various 

 metals, and are distinguished for their powerful electro-positive cha- 

 racter. These remarkable compounds are procured by the action of 

 heat or light upon their proximate constituents, and are thus distin- 

 guished from most other organic compounds of this nature by the 

 manner of their formation. The author describes seven of these 

 compounds. 



Stanethylittm. — When iodide of ethyl and metallic tin are exposed 

 to the influence of heat or light, which is most conveniently done in 

 sealed glass tubes, the tin gradually dissolves in the ethereal liquid, 

 which finally solidifies to a mass of colourless crystals. A quantity 

 of gas, comparatively very small, is generated at the same time. 

 This gaseous product of the reaction proved, on anal3'sis, to be a 

 mixture of hydride of ethyl and olefiant gas, produced from the de- 

 composition of iodide of ethyl by tin into iodide of tin and ethyl, 

 which last is transformed at the moment of its liberation into the 

 two gases just mentioned. The principal and most important re- 

 action, however, consists in the direct union of tin with iodide of 

 ethyl, giving rise to a cr}'stalline body which is the iodide of a new 

 organic radical, stanethylium. 



By double decomposition the other compounds of stanethylium 

 can be readily formed ; the author has prepared and described the 

 oxide, chloride, bromide and sulphide of stanethylium; these bodies 

 exhibit a striking resemblance to the corresponding bi-compounds of 

 tin, but are distinguished from them by a peculiar pungent and im- 

 tating odour resembling that of the volatile oil of mustard. 



If a slip of zinc be immersed in a solution of chloride of stan- 

 ethylium, dense oily drops soon form on the surface of the zinc, and 

 finally collect at the bottom of the vessel. This oily liquid is the 

 radical stanethylium, which possesses the following properties: — it 

 exists at ordinaiy temperatures as a thick heavy oily liquid of a 

 yellow or brownish-yellow colour, and an exceedingly pungent 

 odour resembling that of its compounds, but much more powerful. 

 It is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and ether. At about 

 150° C. it enters into ebullition, but is simultaneously decomposed, 

 metallic tin being deposited. In contact with air stanethylium 

 rapidly absorbs oxygen, and is converted into oxide of stanethylium. 



