272 
DR. E. FRANKLAND’S RESEARCHES ON ORGANO-METALLIC BODIES. 
intervention of ether, in which either ingredient, or both of them, may be dissolved. 
If the iodine and ether be perfectly anhydrous, and the solution of zincethyl in ether 
cooled below 0° C., the action is unattended by the evolution of any gas ; but if the 
temperature be allowed to rise above 10° C., a small amount of gas is given off near 
the close of the operation. To ascertain the nature of this reaction, a quantity of 
zincethyl, dissolved in the ether which had distilled with it from the copper digester, 
was placed in a flask and cooled to —20° C. A saturated solution of iodine in ether, 
both carefully freed from moisture, was then cautiously added in small quantities at a 
time, and with constant agitation of the contents of the flask, care being taken that 
the temperature never rose above 0° C. The addition of the iodine solution was con- 
tinued until the intensity of the action had so far moderated as to allow of the iodine 
being used in the solid state, and it was then added in fine powder until the slight 
coloration of the liquor indicated that this element was present in excess and the 
action completed. The ethereal liquid remained transparent 'during the whole ope- 
ration, and no gas was evolved. The completion of the reaction was also indicated 
by the solution of zincethyl ceasing to effervesce when a drop of it was brought in 
contact with water. 
One portion of the solution thus saturated with iodine was allowed to evaporate 
spontaneously over sulphuric acid in vacuo. A white crystalline residue remained, 
and the sulphuric acid became filled with minute crystals of iodine, whilst on opening 
the receiver it evidently contained the vapour of iodide of ethyl. After exposing the 
white crystalline residue to a slow current of dry air for some hours, to remove the 
remaining traces of iodide of ethyl, it was ignited with oxide of copper, when it yielded 
traces only of carbonic acid and water ; it was in fact pure iodide of zinc. The second 
portion of the solution was distilled from a water-bath ; the distillate consisted of 
ether and iodide of ethyl ; on being frequently washed with water, dried over chloride 
of calcium and redistilled, it yielded a large quantity of pure iodide of ethyl, which 
boiled at 72° C., and gave the following analytical results : — 
*7253 grrn., burnt with oxide of copper, gave *4155 grm. carbonic acid and *2093 
grm. water. These numbers correspond with the formula 
C,HJ. 
Calculated. 
Found. 
C, . 
. . 24-00 
15-40 
15-61 
II. . 
. . 5-00 
3-21 
3-21 
I . . 
. . 126-88 
81-39 
155-88 
100-00 
The action of iodine upon zincethyl may therefore be expressed by the following 
eriuation : — 
C,II,Znl_fCJIJ 
