410 
DE. E. EEAl^KLANE’S EESEAECHES ON OEGANO-INIETALLIC BODIES. 
Calculated. 
r~ 
^1. 
II. 
in. 
Mean. 
48 
18-60 
18-59 
18-28 
18-44 
10 
3-88 
4-20 
4-21 
4-20 
200 
77-52 
77-75 
— 
77-59 
77-67 
100-00 
100-54 
100-31 
The body perfectly agrees in all its properties n-ith the mercnnc ethyl obtained by 
Mr.BTOSTOU; and to the remarks of that accurate observer respecting this compound 
I have not one word to add. 
The entire absence of mercuric methide and the presence of zincmethyl amongst the 
products of the action of zincethyl upon iodide of mercurj-methyl, pomt to the foUomng 
equation as representing the reaction : — 
Hg(C,H3)I 
2Zn(C4 Hs) 
This result indicates a mobility in the organic groups contained in these compounds 
which could scarcely have been expected. 
IV. Action of Zincmethyl u]pon Chloride of Mercury ethyl. 
Although the above reaction failed to produce mercuric ethylomethide, it was stiU 
possible that this body might be formed by acting upon a mercuryethyl compound mth 
zincmethyl. For this purpose the iodide of mercuiyethyl naturaUy suggested itseK ; bu 
as I found this body dilficult to prepare in large quantity by the action of diffused g 
upon iodide of ethyl in presence of mercury, I selected the chlonde of mercmye y , 
which was prepared by the following modification of the process suggested by 
Mr. Buckton. ^ ^ ^ 
To an ethereal solution of zincethyl, dried and powdered bichloii e o . 
added until the zincethyl was as nearly as possible all decomposed. The hquid had 
then separated into two layers,— an upper one nearly solid, consisting of a satiiiate 
solution of chloride of zinc in ether, and a lower and more voluminous one, compose 
of nearly pure and limpid mercuric ethide. The latter, which can easily be separated 
from the tenacious solution of chloride of zinc, was washed uitli dilute^ acetic aci 
remove a trace of zincethyl which it contained, and then dissolved m fifteen or tweiit) 
times its bulk of alcohol. This alcoholic solution was now poured upon a quantity of 
powdered bichloride of mercury, rather less than sufficient to convert the mercuric etliy 
into chloride of mercurous ethyl, and, the whole being heated to the boiling-point, t le 
liquor was filtered whilst hot; on cooling, it deposited a copious crop of magnificent 
satiny crystals of chloride of murcurous ethyl, perfectly free from bichloride of mercury ; 
and the mother-liquor being repeatedly returned to the flask containing the imdissolved 
chloride of mercurous ethyl, the whole of the latter was finally obtained in a pme and 
rHg(C4 Hsja 
1 = 1 Zn(C2 H3) 
^ IZnI. 
