Results of Experiments. 
25 7 
ceiver. Hence we made experiments to find a substitute which 
would prove more satisfactory. Good results were obtained in 
using platinic chloride and stannic chloride, and future work 
was carried on with fuming stannic chloride. 
So far, experiments have been made with five different al¬ 
cohols, and our results seem to indicate that the reaction is one 
which can be applied to the alcohols quite generally. The fol¬ 
lowing are the results, briefly stated, which we have obtained 
by what we call our aluminium-stannic chloride reaction. 
WITH ETHYL ALCOHOL. 
We used 5 grams of chipped aluminium and 7 c. c. of fuming 
stannic chloride in 50 c. c. of absolute ethyl alcohol. The 
action began immediately, accompanied at first by a consider¬ 
able rise in temperature, and continued at the temperature of 
the laboratory for three or four days, when the contents of the 
flask had become quite solid. This was then distilled in vacuo 
as follows. The apparatus was first exhausted to a pressure of 
from 12 to 25 mm. and the substance gradually heated until 
the boiling ethylate was just about to pass over into the receiver. 
During this first heating some alcohol always passed over, and 
it became necessary to substitute a clean, dry receiver in which 
to collect the distillate. After this had been done and the 
pressure again reduced, the distillation was recommenced and 
continued until signs of decomposition began to appear. The 
distillate thus obtained was then subjected to another distilla¬ 
tion and fractionated, during which process its boiling point 
was taken. It was then analysed. The ethylate thus obtained 
was a pure white solid of a gummy consistency, boiling at 235° 
C. under a pressure of 23 mm. and melting at 135° C. It was 
only slightly soluble in absolute alcohol but more so in ether and 
benzene. Chloroform did not dissolve it. On analysis it gave 
Theoretical. 
Found. 
I. 
II. 
Aluminium. 
16.66 
17.86 
17.57 
17 
