A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THE CARBON COMPOUNDS. 117
the formation of alcohol and acid potassium carbonate; the free ethylcarbonic
acid is not known.
Ethyl Orlhocarbonate CKOCJHJ)^—This compound, corresponding
to the normal ethyl silicate, is formed by acting with sodium upon a
solution of chloropicrin in absolute alcohol:—
, + 3NaCl + NaNOa
It is a colourless liquid, boiling at 158° and having an aromatic
smell When heated with alcoholic potash it is decomposed, potassium
carbonate, ether, and alcohol being formed.
Ethyl Carbamate CO ( rj? h -—This compound is formed when dry
ammonia acts upon ethyl carbonate at the common temperature, whilst
if the two substances are heated together to 100°, carbamide is produced.
Ethyl carbamate, also called urethane, is a colourless crystalline
solid, melting and boiling without decomposition at 180°; it is
also obtained when cyanogen chloride is passed into alcohol:—
CNC1 + 2(C^Ht.OH) = C2H6C1 + CO {oofe
Ethyl Sulphocarbonate 9,«5 6 \ CSS is a yellow oil, boiling at 240°,
2 6 J
which is produced by acting with sodium sulphocarbonate upon an
alcoholic solution of ethyl iodide. Nitric acid oxidizes it to ethylsul-
phonio acid.
XaiUhic Add or Ethyldisulplwcarhnic Add *~JjJ [ COS^—The
potassium salt of this acid separates in white silky needles when
carbon disulphide is added to a hot alcoholic solution of potash. By
adding cold dilute sulphuric acid to this salt, xanthic acid is ob-
tained as a colourless oil, having a penetrating smell. It is a very
unstable compound, being resolved at about 25° into carbon ctisul*
phide and alcohol. The xautliatea of the metals of the alkalis
and alkaline earths are soluble in water, and precipitated by most
metallic salts. Lead mntluxte (C?Hj.COSa)2Pb is a white precipitate,
crystallizing from hot alcohol in needles. The copper salt is a
beautiful yellow powder.
When iodine is added to an alcoholic solution of a xanthate, the
following reaction takes place:•—•
C S i0C 2H 6
c s { ° c ° H >
Ethyldisidphotarbonyl disulphide is formed, crystallizing in brilliant
white prisms, melting at 28°, and possessing a peculiar but not un-
pleasant odour.