Am'M°aUv'i92iann'}        Volatilisation  of  Ethyl  Nitrite.  323 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  J. 
One-ounce  bottles  were  completely  filled,  then  exposed  to  direct 
sunlight,  and  assayed  weekly. 
Flint.  Amber. 
Original  strength,  5.25  per  cent.  5.25  per  cent. 
After  1  week,  4.10  "    "  5.24  "  " 
After  2  weeks,  2.62  "    "  5.20  "  " 
After  3  weeks,  1.89  "    "  5.18  "  " 
After  4  weeks,  1.18  "    "  5.19  "  " 
Results  show  surprisingly  little  change  in  the  contents  of  amber 
bottles  and  that  the  contents  of  the  flint  bottles  show  marked  deteri- 
oration. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  8. 
Desiring  to  determine  the  relative  votality  of  ethyl  nitrite  and 
alcohol  when  in  admixture,  16  ounces  were  heated  on  a  steam  bath. 
When  a  quantity  equal  to  the  amount  of  ethyl  nitrite  present  had 
been  driven  off  it  was  found  to  contain  2.5  per  cent,  ethyl  nitrite, 
which  was  a  loss  of  2.08  per  cent.  Upon  continuing  the  evapora- 
tion until  all  of  the  ethyl  nitrite  had  been  eliminated,  it  was  found 
that  2.5  ounces  had  been  vaporized,  about  1.75  ounces  of  which  was 
alcohol. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  9. 
Exposure  to  the  atmosphere  in  a  porcelain  evaporating  dish. 
Original  strength.   After  ]/2  hour.   After  i  hour.   After  1^/2  hours. 
4.58  per  cent.        1.4  per  cent.    .275  per  cent.     .038  per  cent. 
The  pronounced  volatility  of  the  ethyl  nitrite  is  well  illustrated, 
in  this  test,  which  shows  the  elimination  of  practically  all  of  it  in 
iy2  hours. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  10. 
Exposure  to  the  atmosphere  and  agitation  in  a  porcelain  dish. 
Original       After  stirring    After  stirring    After  stirring 
strength.  I  minute.         3  minutes.         5  minutes. 
4.56  per  cent.    3.58  per  cent.    2.19  per  cent.    1.54  per  cent. 
After  stirring  10  minutes  After  stirring  15  minutes. 
.57  per  cent.  .19  per  cent. 
The  rate  of  elimination  was  substantially  increased  by  stirring 
as  most  of  the  ethyl  nitrite  was  dissipated  in  10  minutes  and  prac- 
tically all  in  15  minutes. 
