100 
DR. A. W. HOFMANN’S RESEARCHES REGARDING THE 
Ethylaniline {Ethylophenylamine) . 
This base may be readily obtained in a state of purity by decomposing the solution 
of the hydrobromate with a concentrated solution of potassa, A brown basic oil rises 
at once to the top of the liquid ; it is separated by means of a pipette or a tap-funnel, 
and subjected to rectification, after having been freed from water by standing over 
solid potassa. Thus a colourless transparent oil is obtained, which rapidly turns 
brown on exposure to air and light, and has a very high refractive power. It has all 
the properties of the oily bases in general. From aniline it is distinguished by a slight 
difference in the odour, perhaps imperceptible to an inexperienced nose, by a higher 
boiling-point and a lower specific gravity. Ethylaniline boils (from platinum) con- 
stantly at 204°, the boiling-point of aniline being 182°; the specific gravity of this 
base is 0’954 at 18°, that of aniline being T020 at 16°. Ethylaniline does not exhibit 
the violet coloration with chloride of lime which characterizes aniline. Its acid solu- 
tions impart a yellow colour to fir-wood and the pith of elder-tree, although less in- 
tensely than those of aniline. By dry chromic acid the base is inflamed like aniline. 
Analyses performed with protoxide of copper gave the following results: — 
I. 0'2566 grm. of oil gave 0‘7470 grm. of carbonic acid*. 
II. 0‘3048 grm. of oil gave 0‘8850 grm. of carbonic acid, andO'2544 grm. of water. 
Carbon . . 
Hydrogen . 
The formula 
requires the following values : — 
1 6 equivs. of Carbon . . 
1 1 equivs. of Hydrogen . 
1 equiv. of Nitrogen . 
] equiv. of Ethylaniline . 
Percentage-composition. 
. 79-39 79-19 
. 9-27 
Ci6 H,, N 
Theory, 
A 
Mean of experiments 
. . ' 96 
79-33' 
79-28 
. . 11 
9-09 
9-27 
. . 14 
11-58 
. . 121 
100-00 
The salts of ethylaniline are remarkable for their solubility, especially in water. 
They are not easily obtained in well-defined crystals from an aqueous solution. 
From alcohol, in which they are somewhat less soluble than in water, several salts 
may be readily crystallized. Both the hydrochlorate and oxalate are obtained only 
on evaporating their solutions nearly to dryness, when the salts separate in the form 
of radiated masses ; the sulphate and nitrate have not as yet been obtained in the 
solid form. 
* The hydrogen was lost. 
