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Volatilization  of  Ethyl  Nitrite. 
A.m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1921. 
Only  a  little  change  occurred  in  the  amber  containers  and  prac- 
tically none  in  the  flint  containers  until  between  the  third  and  fourth 
weeks,  when  a  perceptible  decrease  in  strength  occurred.  This  pecu- 
liarity has  been  noted  at  various  times  and  may  be  due  to  the  pres- 
ence of  a  foreign  substance. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  4. 
One  pint  was  placed  in  a  one-pint  glass  stoppered  bottle  and  ex- 
amined weekly. 
Original  strength.  After  i  week.  After  2  weeks.  After  3  weeks. 
5.25  per  cent.        5.1  per  cent.     4.99  per  cent.     4.96  per  cent. 
After  4  weeks. 
4.86  per  cent. 
This  bottle  was  kept  on  a  shelf  under  ordinary  conditions.  A 
progressive  loss  of  about  .4  per  cent,  for  this  period  is  noted. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  5. 
A  one-quart  cork  stoppered  bottle  was  filled  and  placed  on  shelf. 
Two  ounces  were  taken  out  each  day  and  the  strength  noted.  The 
following  results  given  in  the  order  of  their  testing,  were  obtained 
on  succeeding  days :  5.22  per  cent.,  5.22  per  cent.,  5.22  per  cent., 
5.18  per  cent.,  5.16  per  cent.,  5.1  per  cent.,  5.07  per  cent.,  5.1 1  per 
cent.,  5.01  per  cent.,  4.95  per  cent.,  4.90  per  cent.,  4.7  per  cent.,  4.57 
per  cent.,  4.62  per  cent.,  4.04  per  cent.  As  the  original  strength  was 
5.25  per  cent.,  it  is  shown  that  a  loss  of  1.21  per  cent,  was  suffered 
during  that  period.  This  test  was  conducted  in  order  to  parallel  the 
conditions  that  exist  when  a  large  number  of  orders  are  filled  from 
the  same  container. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  6. 
Four  ounces  were  placed  in  a  pint  bottle  and  kept  on  a  shelf  un- 
der ordinary  conditions. 
Original  strength.  After  keeping  i  day.  After  keeping  21  days. 
4.58  per  cent.         3.92  per  cent.  2.71  per  cent. 
The  loss  of  1.87  per  cent,  of  ethyl  nitrite  during  this  period 
shows  the  inadvisability  of  placing  a  small  quantity  in  a  container 
that  allows  a  large  air  space  above  the  liquid. 
