OF THE PARAFFINS AND THEIR MONOHALOGEN DERIVATIVES. 
23 
Table X. 
p- 
t. 
1 . 
r. 
P- 
^ _l_ 1 (pv) 
p dv. 
7- 
190 
18-4 
2070 
48-82 
4-920 
1-023 
1-274 
210 
20 
20-81 
48-99 
4-934 
1-029 
1,-285 
220 
187 
20-78 
48-89 
4-940 
1-030 
1'294 
220 
20-2 
20-78 
48-97 
4-940 
1-0.30 
1-290 
225 
19-5 
20-72 
48-93 
4-942 
1-0.32 
■ 1-287 
Mean 
1-286 
§ 8. Ethane. 
The first attempts to prepare ethane were by the electrolysis of a saturated solution 
of potassium acetate. Since these were made, Dr. T. S. Murbay has published an 
account* of an extensive investigation of the method, so that it is needless to give 
any detailed account of my failure. The sample first analyzed was made by using a 
strong current for a short time, and proved to be almost pure ethane, but as the 
apparatus soon began to get hot, a much smaller current was used when preparing a 
large quantity for a velocity of sound determination, and the result was that the gas 
was not good enough for use. This agrees with Murray’s conclusion that high 
current density and low temperature are necessary, and shows that the method is not 
suitable for making a large supply, as a strong current and low temperature are not 
easily secured together. 
This method having failed, it was decided to use the reaction between zinc-ethyl 
and water. 
The zinc-ethyl was prepared in the same way as the zinc-methyl previously 
described. 
For the preparation of ethane, the zinc-ethyl was mixed with twice its weight of 
* ‘ Chem. Soc. Journ.,’ January, 1892. 
