418 ME. G. B. BUCKTON ON THE ISOLATION OE THE OEGANO-METALS, 
From these experiments light would appear to be an almost necessary agent in the 
'Tt^has been already shown that the radical mercui-ic methyl may be prepared ttoor^h 
the reducing action of cyanide of potassium, the change bemg represented by t e 
equatron Cy=HgC, H,+KI+Hg+Cy. 
The cyanogen principally occurs in the form of paracyanogen. 
If the same process be adopted towards the corresponding ethyl compormd, the 
quantity obtained is very trifling; almost the whole of the ethyl is disinte^-ated by the 
high temperature into gaseous products. A far more eflicient and generally apphcable 
method presented itself, from a consideration of the powerful and weU-marked reactions 
of zincethyl on water, and on hydrochloric acid. There seemed to be weU.grounded 
reasons for believing that interesting decompositions would result fi'om the contact o 
zincethyl with various iodides and chlorides, of both the organo and true metals. 
The radical mercuric ethyl may be very conveniently formed by mtroducmg zmcet y 
into a retort, into which a slow stream of coal-gas is driven through the beak. Dry an 
powdered iodide of mercurous ethyl is then added, in small quantities at a time, thinu^ 
the neck, and incorporated by stirring. As soon as the zmcethyl is satinated, which 
may be known by the stirring rod moistened with it ceasing to fume on exposine o 
the air, distillation may be commenced, and continued until gases alone pass over. 
The product consists of a heavy liquid, mixed generally ivith a little ether. It is we 
acrain to distil with a slight excess of zincethyl, so as to ensure entne decomposition of 
the iodide. If this be neglected, the purification of the radical by rectification will e 
almost impossible. • j r • 
The distillate should be washed with dilute hydi-ochloric acid, to remove oxide of zmc, 
and afterwards well agitated with water. After the ether has been removed by rectiflca- 
tion a liquid remains which possesses a boiling-point between lo8 and I 
A portion thus prepared was analysed, and gave the following composition:— 
I. 0-6305 gi-m., burnt with oxide of copper, gave 0-3630 gi-m. carbomc acid and 
0T780grm. water. 
II. 1-0457 grm., burnt with oxide of copper, gave 0-8078 grm. mercury. 
These numbers very closely point to the formula 
Hg C4 Hj. 
I equiv. of Mercury . 
4 equivs. of Carbon . 
6 equivs. of Hydrogen 
Theory. 
A 
Experiment 
100 
77-53 
77-24 
24 
18-60 
18-66 
5 
3-87 
3-72 
129 
100-00 
Mercuric ethyl is a perfectly colourless liquid, as limpid as water, and possessed of a 
