370 
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 
The mixture of sodium salts was extracted with absolute alcohol, and 
gave a small quantity of a salt which was purified by recrystallisation from 
absolute alcohol. This salt agreed in general character and reactions with 
the ethyl potassium sulphite described by Warlitz {Liebig’s Annalen, 143, 
p. 78), and gave the following results on analysis : — 
I. 0-1991 grm. gave 0*1313 C0 2 and 0-0673 H 2 0 
C = 18*0% ; H = 3’8% 
II. 0-1567 grm. gave 0-1027 00 2 and 0’0521 H s O 
C= 17*9% ; H = 3*7% 
III. 0-1200 grm. gave 0*0651 Na 2 S0 4 
Na= 17 * 6 % 
IY. 0-2143 grm. gave 0*1176 Na 2 S0 4 
Na= 17*8% 
The formula NaS0 2 ’0C 2 H 5 requires C = 18*17%, H = 3*80%, Na = 17*43%. 
There was not a sufficient quantity for a sulphur determination, but 
there can be little doubt that the substance was ethyl sodium sulphite. It 
gave alcohol and sodium sulphite when treated with caustic soda ; charred 
when heated, giving off vapour containing sulphur, and gave S0 2 when 
warmed with hydrochloric acid. Heated in a tube with solid KCN, it 
gave a distinct odour of isonitrile. 
The most probable explanation of the reaction of sodium ethylate on 
trichloromethyl-sulphonic chloride is that the ester (C 2 H 5 0) 3 C'S0 2 0C 2 H 5 
is formed, and acted on by sodium ethylate thus, — 
(C 2 H 5 0) 3 C-S0 2 *0C 2 H 5 + C 2 H 5 0]Sra = 
(C 2 H 5 0) 4 C + ]tfaS0 2 *0C 2 H 6 and 
(C 2 H 5 0) 3 C*S 0 2 - 0 C 2 H 5 + C 2 H 5 01Sra = 
(C 2 H 5 0) 2 C° + (C 2 H 5 ) 2 0 + NaS0 2 -0C 2 H 5 , 
— and that the carbonic esters are acted on by sodium ethylate giving ether 
and sodium carbonate,* while the ethyl sodium sulphite with sodium ethylate 
gives ether and sodium sulphite. 
* Bassett, Liebig’s Annalen , 132, p. 57. 
(. Issued separately November 8, 1907.) 
