320  Volatilization  of  Ethyl  Nitrite.        { Am'M°ay  wSf"" 
THE  VOLATILIZATION  OF  ETHYL  NITRITE  FROM 
SWEET  SPIRIT  OF  NITRE. 
By  J.  G.  Roberts. 
An  investigation  to  determine  the  cause  of  the  deterioration  of 
sweet  spirit  of  nitre  was  instituted  on  account  of  the  frequent  preva- 
lence of  low  strength  samples,  which  had  supposedly  been  stored 
under  normal  conditions. 
As  shown  by  the  following  results  deterioration  is  due  to  either 
the  decomposition  of,  or,  to  the  volatilization  of  the  ethyl  nitrite. 
Decomposition;  is  due  to  the  action  of  light  and  volatilization  to  the 
action  of  heat,  to  the  imperfect  sealing  of  containers  or  to  insuf- 
ficiently filled  containers.  Carelessness  or  slowness  in  mixing  the 
ethyl  nitrite  and  alcohol  is  also  a  contributing  factor.  The  latter 
cause  can  however  be  eliminated,  particularly  when  a  small  quantity 
is  prepared,  by  using  the  sealed  tubes  which  contain  sufficient  ethyl 
nitrite,  which  when  mixed  with  one  pint  of  alcohol  will  produce 
sweet  spirit  of  nitre  of  normal  strength. 
Ethyl  Nitrite  or  Nitrous  Ether,  as  it  was  first  named,  is  a  well- 
established  product  which  has  been  well  known  for  a  considerable 
period.  It  was  discovered  by  Kunkel  as  early  as  1681,  and  was  ob- 
tained by  the  reaction  of  nitric  acid,  alcohol  and  copper.  It  is  a 
yellowish  volatile  liquid  of  a  pleasant,  ethereal  odor,  has  a  specific 
gravity  of  .990  at  15.5°  C,  and  boils  at  170  C.  It  is  readily  miscible 
with  alcohol,  from  which  it  is  easily  dissipated  when  not  properly 
stored. 
In  the  present  method  of  manufacture,  ethyl  nitrite  is  produced 
by  the  reaction  of  sodium  nitrite,  sulphuric  acid  and  alcohol.  It  is 
preferably  made  in  a  stone-ware  vessel  of  convenient  size,  which  is 
provided  with  a  mechanical  stirrer.  The  resulting  gaseous  ethyl 
nitrite  is  passed  through  a  well-cooled  condenser  and  collected  in  an 
ice-packed  receiving  vessel.  As  it  is  decomposed  in  the  presence  of 
water,  particular  care  is  taken  to  render  it  anhydrous. 
Sweet  spirit  of  nitre  is  a  very  popular  article,  and  judging  from 
the  attention  given  it,  it  has  the  greatest  popularity  among  the  vari- 
ous National,  State  and  Municipal  authorities  who  have  made  it  a 
very  frequent  cause  of  investigation  and  examination.  That  their 
vigilance  is  justified  is  proven  by  the  large  number  of  cases  of  low 
quality  sweet  spirit  of  nitre  that  they  have  found.   The  ready  vola- 
