262 
DR. E. FRANKLAND’S RESEARCHES ON ORGANO-METALLIC BODIES. 
was charged with four ounces of finely granulated zinc, which had been previously 
heated to the same temperature, for at least half an hour, in order to get rid of every 
trace of moisture, the presence of which, in the ingredients used for the preparation ot 
organo-zinc compounds, must be most carefully avoided, as all these compounds are 
instantaneously decomposed by contaet with water into oxide of zinc and hydride of 
the organic radical; extraordinary care therefore, in freeing the materials perfectly from 
moisture, is amply repaid in the increased quantity of the product. As soon as the 
hot zinc had been introduced into the digester and slightly rammed down, the cap C, C 
was securely screwed into its place, the plug E inserte’d, and the apparatus allowed to 
become cold. Two ounces of iodide of ethyl, by measure, were then mixed with an 
equal bulk of ether*, which had been well washed and subsequently distilled several 
times from anhydrous carbonate of potash. About 100 grains of anhydrous phosphoric 
acid were then added to this mixture, which was well agitated and allowed to stand 
for half an hour: the phosphoric acid gradually cohered into a porous gummy mass, 
from which the ethereal mixture could be readily decanted and poured into the digester 
through a funnel inserted in the aperture D. The plug E being then firmly screwed 
down, the digester was placed in the oil-bath, and maintained at a temperature of 
about 130° C. for twelve or eighteen hours: at the end of this time traces only of 
iodide of ethyl remained undecornposed. 
After the apparatus had been allowed to cool, the screw E was loosened, to allow 
a quantity of gas, principally hydride of ethyl, to escape; if all the materials were 
carefully freed from moisture, the quantity of gas was insignificant, but if moisture 
were present it was much larger, being derived, as above stated, from the decom- 
position of zincethyl. When the gas had escaped, the screw was removed and 
replaced by a cork and bent tube, conveniently arranged for the distillation of the 
volatile contents of the digester. 
As zincethyl is spontaneously inflammable in air and instantaneously decomposed 
by water, it is necessary that the vessels into which it is distilled should be kept 
constantly filled, either with dry hydrogen, nitrogen, or carbonic acid gas ; the latter 
1 have found most convenient in practice. The maintenance of an atmosphere of 
this gas can be easily effected by the following arrange(nent of apparatus, fig. 4. A 
is a Woulf’s bottle for the generation of the carbonic acid, which streams through a 
chloride of calcium tube B, and Woulf’s bottle C containing concentrated sulphuric 
acid, before entering the reservoir D, which should be of about two quarts’ capacity, 
and contain a stratum of concentrated sulphuric acid about one inch deep. From 
this reservoir the dry gas can be allowed to escape, either by the tube e into the 
vessel,/', or thi'ough the retoit g by the tube h. 
* I have already pointed out that the admixture of ether almost entirely prevents the elimination of gases 
during the reaction (.Journ. Chem. Soc. vol. ii. pp. 293 and 298), and Brodie (Journ. Chem. Soc. vol. iii. 
p. 409) has since shown that it greatly facilitates the production of zincethyl, nearly the whole of the iodide 
of ethyl being transformed into this body. 
