A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THE CARBON COMPOUNDS. 109
consisting of a compound of sodium ethylate with aloohol, the latter
acting like water of crystallization. Oa heating these crystals in a
current of pure, dry hydrogen to 180°—200°, all the alcohol is
expelled and pure sodium ethylate is left behind, a white, light,
porous mass, which is decomposed by water into caustic soda and
alcohol. Potassium ethylate is a similar compound.
Ethyl GMoride C2H6C1 is a colourless gas, possessing a pleasant
ethereal odour; on cooling it condenses to a liquid, which boils at
12°S. It is inflammable, and burns with a smoky green-bordered
flame. To prepare it, absolute alcohol is saturated with dry hydrochloric
acid gas, and the liquid, after standing for a few days, is heated.
The vapour is washed with warm water, dried over fused calcium
chloride, and condensed in a receiver, surrounded by a freezing mixture.
Ethyl chloride is formed in large quantities as a bye-product in the
manufacture of ohloral hydrate (vide Chloral).
Ethyl Bromide CgH6Br is best prepared by adding gradually six
parts of bromine to a well-cooled mixture of six parts of spirits of
wine and one part of amorphous phosphorus. After standing for
some tune the bromide is distilled off, the distillate washed with
caustic soda solution, dried over calcium chloride, and rectified.
Ethyl bromide is a colourless heavy liquid, possessing a sweet ethereal
odour and boiling at 39°.
Ethyl Iodide CgH6I.—To obtain this compound one part of amorphous
phosphorus and five parts of alcohol are placed into a retort, and
ten parts of powdered iodine are gradually added, and the mixture
allowed to stand over night. The iodide is distilled off next day and
purified like the bromide. The formation of ethyl iodide takes place
according to the equation :—
5(CaH6.OH) + 51 + P =• 5CaH6I + PO4H8 + H,0
It is a colonrless heavy liquid, having a peculiar, somewhat garliclike
odour, and boiling at 72°. When it ia exposed to the light and
air it assumes a brown colour, iodine being set free. Ethyl iodide is
very largely used for the preparation of other ethyl compounds, «s it
very readily exchangos its iodine by double decomposition. It is
prepared on the large scale, and used hi the manufacture of the violets
known as Hofmann's.
Ethyl Oxide, Diethyl Ether ^ 6 \ 0.—This body, commonly called
"ether," 1 can be formed by several reactions, the most simple being
the action of ethyl iodide upon sodium ethylate:—
Ether is manufactured on the large scale by heating a mixture of
1 The name of the radical ettyl is derived ftora ether; the affix "yl," which lias
boon introduced for the purposo of designating organic radioals, being derived from
S\i) " the matter or stuff of whioh a sutotance is made."