A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THE CARBON COMPOUNDS. ill
To illustrate in the lecture room the preparation of ether by this
process, the apparatus (Fig. 9) is used.
The crude ether thus obtained swims as a light layer upon the
water, and generally contains besides alcohol also sulphuric dioxide.
To obtain it in a pure state it is washed with dilute soda solution,
dried over quicklime, and rectified with the aid of a water-bath.
To obtain it completely free from water and alcohol, it must be left
in contact with metallic sodium so long as any action takes place,
and then be distilled off.
Pure ethyl ether is a very mobile liquid, possessing a characteristic
penetrating odour and a burning taste. It boils at 34 O# 5, and haa at
0° the specific gravity 0*736. It is somewhat soluble in water, and
mixes with alcohol in all proportions. It is highly inflammable,
burning with a luminous flame. Its vapour, which is 2*557 times
heavier than water, and which can be poured from vessel to vessel
like carbon dioxide, forms with air an explosive mixture; great
care must therefore be taken, in working with large quantities of
such a volatile and inflammable body, to avoid the presence of any
light.
Methyl-ethyl MIUTQ^ \ 0 is obtained by the action of ethyl iodide
upon sodium methylate, and may also be prepared by heating methyl
sulphuric acid with ethyl alcohol It is a very volatile liquid, boiling
at 12°.
On acting upon well-cooled ether with chlorine in the diffused
daylight, substitution products are formed.
Mmocklweihyl (kade ° a Q ^ ]• 0 is a limpid liquid boiling at 97°
IHchlorethyl Oxide Q^ \ 0 boils at 140°, and possesses a pungent
smell; when heated with water in sealed tubes to 120°, it yields
ethyl alcohol and monoohloraoetaldehyde:—
= 1 * +H0.CjH5-|-
CHO
HC1
By the action of zinc ethide on dichlorethyl oxide, the compounds
C^CKPM^ | Oand C2Hs(CjH,), | Q are produced> When the fiwt
of these is heated with fuming hydriodic acid, it is decomposed with
the formation of ethyl iodide and secondary butyl iodide;—
CH8C1
C2H6O.CH + 4HI = CjHsI + CHI + H2O + HC1 +1,