ON THE PHOSPHOEUS- BASES. 
587 
of the oxide with a degree of certainty scarcely inferior to that furnished by analysis 
itself. The examination of well-defined sulphur- and selenium-compounds of the com- 
position respectively 
CiaHijPSa =E3PS2 and 
C.2H,,PSe2=E3PSe2, 
sufficiently proves that the body in question is the corresponding oxide, that it is in fact 
a combination of triethylphosphine with 2 equivalents of oxygen, C,2 H15 P02=E3 POg ; 
an inference which is moreover supported by the existence of analogous and similarly 
formed combinations in the antimony- and arsenic-series, viz. 
C12 Hi 5 Sb02=E3 Sb02, and 
C12 Hi5 As02 = E3 ASO2. 
The formation of such a binoxide by the distillation of the hydrated oxide of tetrethyl- 
phosphonium, is readily intelligible, if we assume that the hydrocarbon simultaneously 
disengaged consists of hydride of ethyl, an assumption which is in accordance with the 
general characters of this gas. 
E,PO, HO = E3PO2 + EH 
Hydrated oxide of Binoxide of Hydride of 
tetrethylphosphoniuin. triethylphosphine. ethyl. 
We should have liked to establish this equation by some analytical numbers, but after 
some fruitless trials to prepare the substance in a state of purity, we were obliged to 
desist from the attempt. Even the preparation of a considerable quantity of oxide of 
tetrethylphosphonium is a long, laborious and expensive operation ; but to these numerous 
impediments a further difficulty is added, which at the first glance appeared altogether 
inexplicable. Under certain conditions the distillation of oxide of tetrethylphosphonium 
furnishes either no inflammable gas at all, or only traces ; at the same time the forma- 
tion of the crystalline binoxide either entirely ceases, or takes place only in very minute 
quantities. We have convinced ourselves that this invariably occurs when the alkaline 
solution, by exposure to the air, has attracted a considerable quantity of carbonic acid. 
Instead of hydride of ethyl and binoxide of triethylphosphine, the phosphorus-base itself 
is obtained in this case, together with another liquid body which contains no phosphorus. 
By dissolring the distillate in ether, fixing the triethylphosphine by sulphur, and then 
evaporating the ether, an inflammable aromatic liquid remains, which floats on water. 
We had not more than a few drops of this oil at our disposal, which precluded the idea 
of an analysis, but we have no doubt that this liquid is carbonate of ethyl. 
E4P, CO3 = E3P + ECO3. 
Carbonate of Triethyl- Carbonate 
tetrethylphosphonium. phosphine. of ethyl. 
