NEW HYPONITROUS ETHER. 
133 
been noticed by him, seemed to be overlooked by Liebig, 
Kane, and others in their subsequent publications. 
Dr. Hare attached the more importance to his success in 
producing the ether which was the subject of his communica- 
tion ; since, agreeably to Liebig, no such compound exists, 
and it is to be inferred that efforts to produce it had hereto- 
fore failed. It was presumed that this would excite no sur- 
prise, when the difference was considered between the conse- 
quences of the reaction of nitric acid with pyroxylic spirit, and 
with alcohol. 
The liquid last mentioned is now viewed as a hydrated ox- 
ide of ethyl, while pyroxylic spirit is viewed as a hydrated 
oxide of methyl. When alcohol is presented to nitric acid, 
a reciprocal decomposition ensues. The acid loses two atoms 
of oxygen, which by taking two atoms of hydrogen from a 
portion of the alcohol, transforms it into aldehyd ; while the 
hyponitrous acid, resulting inevitably from the partial deoxy- 
dizement of the nitric acid, unites with the base of the re- 
maining part of the alcohol. But when pyroxylic spirit is pre- 
sented to nitric acid, this acid, without decomposition, com- 
bines with methyl, the base of this hydrate ; so that, as no 
hyponitrous acid can be evolved, no hyponitrite can be pro- 
duced. Thus in the case of the one there can be no ethereal 
hyponitrite; in that of the other, no ethereal nitrate. 
Dr. Hare regretted that Liebig should not have been in- 
formed of the improved process for hyponitrous ether, to 
which he had referred in commencing his communication. 
Instead of recommending a resort to the process, it was ad- 
vised that the fumes, resulting from the reaction of nitric 
acid with fecula, should be passed into alcohol, and the result- 
ing vapor condensed by means of a tube surrounded by a 
freezing mixture. 
This process Dr. Hare had repeated, and found the product 
very inferior in quantity and purity to that resulting from the 
employment of a hyponitrite. In this process, nascent hy- 
ponitrous acid, as liberated from a base, is brought into con- 
