424 ME. G. B. BTJCKTOjS' ON THE ISOLATION OE THE OEGANO-IMETALS, 
method he adopted for forming the iodides of stanethyl and stibethyl, from which salts 
all the bodies described by him appear to have been obtained. 
The plan adopted in the present memoir has proceeded rather in an opposite direc- 
tion —the wish being, first to construct the pure radical, and then to foimi from it 
the various salts, according to the mode usually adopted in the case of an ordmaiy 
metal. 
The iodide of stanethyl employed was prepared by Dr. Feaxklaxd’s process. Sealed 
tubes containing iodide of ethyl and excess of tinfon were heated in a strong iron 
digester to 150°— 160= C. After about ten hours’ action, the contents of the tubes 
were transferred to a retort and heated to 120°, to remove aU traces of undecomposed 
iodide of ethyl. 
Action of Zincetliyl on Iodide of Stanethyl. 
If the above-mentioned iodide, in a melted state, be added to a quantity of zmcethyl 
in a retort surrounded by cold water, a solid mass is formed, which is again in gieat 
part dissolved by agitation and aid of the heat generated. Distillation may be then 
commenced, and carried on until gases alone come over. The diy residue consists onh 
of chloride of zinc and a little protiodide of tin. 
It will not be found economical to saturate the zincetliyl at one operation, on account 
of the caking of the materials, which renders the fracture of the retort veiy probable ; 
independently of which, the strong heat then necessary partly decomposes the radical 
when formed. The distillate last obtained should, however, always contain a slight excess 
of zincethyl ; otherwise there is no certainty of removing traces of an iodide, the naUire 
of which will be presently noticed, and which imparts a pungent odour to the radical. 
By agitation with dilute acid and water, two strata of liquids are produced, the lower 
of which was fractioned with the thermometer. 
At first a little ether appeared, after which the boiling-point ran up quicld) to 170 . 
between which and 180° by far the larger quantity distilled over. The fraction taken 
between 176° and 180° C. was considered pure, and set apart for examination. It was veiy 
combustible, and gave, when ignited, a lurid flame with fine blue edges, and disengagetl 
at the same time a thick cloud of tin oxide. 
I. 0-2886 grm. of substance gave, when buMit, 0-4265 grin, carbonic acid and 
0-2213 grm. water. 
II. 0-3117 grm. of substance gave 0-4672 grm. carbonic acid and 0 245o grm. 
water. 
These numbers correspond to the per-centage composition 
I. n. 
Carbon 40-31 40'81 
Hydrogen .... 8-52 8-72 
and also to the formula 
SnCgllio, or 811 ( 04115 ) 2 - 
