A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

122 THE CHEMISTRY OF
was discovered by the action of caustic potash on ethyl oarbitaide,
and is produced by heating ethyl nitrate with ammonia, and by acting
with nascent hydrogen upon acetonitrile. It occurs also amongst the
volatile bases formed by the destructive distillation of bones and other
animal substances.
IHethylamine C2IL * N is a liquid boiling at 57°, and possessing an
ammoniacal smell; it is soluble in water. On distilling its hydrochloride
with a concentrated solution of potassium nitrate nitroso-
diethyline ^$J 1N is formed, a liquid boiling at 177°, and which
by the action of aqueous hydrochloric acid is again converted into
diethylamine.
N is a light colourless liquid, strongly alkaline,
and only sparingly soluble in water, boiling at 89°. On heating
its hydrochloride with potassium nitrite, 3thyl alcohol and nitrosodiethyline
are formed.
Triethylamine combines readily with ethyl iodide, heat being evolved
during the reaction, and.tetrethylammmiwn iodide N(CtH()4I is formed,
a salt which is soluble in water and forms large colourless crystals.
On treating its solution with freshly precipitated silver oxide, the
hydroxide N(C9H,)4OH is obtained, which has a bitter and very
caustic taste. On evaporating its solution in vacua it is left as a
crystalline, deliquescent mass. Like caustic potash it attacks and
dissolves the skin, saponifies fats, and precipitates metallio salts, but
does not redissolve chromic hydroxide. On heating the hydroxide
it is resolved into water, ethene, and triethylamine.
With acids it forms soluble salts, which crystallize well On adding
platinum chloride to a solution of tetrethylammoniura chloride,
2£N(C8H6)