360 
DR. A. W. HOFMANN’S RESEARCHES INTO THE 
These numbers lead to the following percentage composition : — 
I. II. III. IV. 
Carbon 37'41 
Hydrogen .... 7'71 
Iodine 49-29 4935 49-21 
The simplest formula into which these results may be translated is 
^16 ^20 N 
the theoretical values of which I subjoin for comparison with the experimental 
numbers. 
Theory, 
Mean of Experiments. 
16 equivs. of Carbon . . . 
' 96-0 
37-34 
37-41 
20 equivs. of Hydrogen . . 
20-0 
7-78 
7-71 
1 equiv. of Nitrogen . . . 
14-0 
5-45 
1 equiv. of Iodine .... 
127-1 
49-43 
49-28 
1 equiv. of Iodine-compound 
257-1 
100-00 
Hence it would appear that the formation of the white crystals simply depends upon 
a direct combination of triethylamine with iodide of ethyl, for — 
fi,H,5N+fiH5l=fi6H,oNL 
Triethylamine. Iodide of New crystalline 
Ethyl. compound. 
In perfect accordance with this formation is the change which the iodine-compound 
undergoes when subjected to the action of heat ; when rapidly heated the crystals 
fuse and are decomposed, the products being triethylamine and iodide of ethyl, which 
form two layers in the receiver, but rapidly unite again to the original compound. 
In fact this recombination takes place to a considerable extent in the neck of the 
retort; so that when first I became acquainted with this substance, I was for some 
time under the impression that the iodine-compound might be volatilized without 
decomposition. 
I confess I had not anticipated the possibility of the existence of a compound 
having the above composition ; it appeared at the first glance in direct opposition to 
the theoretical view repeatedly referred to. For if it was possible to decompose the 
new iodide by potassa just as the preceding iodides, obtained respectively by the ac- 
tion of bromide (or iodide) of ethyl upon ammonia, ethylamine and diethylamine, if 
it was possible to separate from this substance a new volatile base analogous to the 
preceding ethylated alkaloids, there was no reason why the process of ethylation 
should cease with the fourth equivalent of ethyl. On the contrary, it then appeared 
more than probable, that the formations of ethylamine, diethylamine and triethyl- 
amine, far from being due to a successive replacement of the various equivalents of 
hydrogen in ammonia, were rather to be considered as special instances of a far more 
general tendency of carbon and hydrogen to accumulate in organic substances. 
