A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

124 THE CHEMISTRY OJP
set free by means of water, is a colourless liquid having a strong
refractive power, lighter than water, boiling at 25°, and without
any action on vegetable colours. Its odour is most overpowering,
resembling that of the carbamines, and producing an intensely
bitter taste in the mouth and deep down in the throat. In contact
with chlorine, bromine, or fuming nitric acid it takes fire. Its
vapour bleaches cork like chlorine, and india-rubber in oontact with
it becomes transparent and brittle. It combines with sulphur and
carbon disulphide, forming liquid compounds, and with concentrated
hydrochloric, hydrobromic, and hydriodic acid it forms crystalline
salts. The hydrocbloride gives with platinum chloride the double salt
[P(C2IL)H?C1]2 + PtCl4, crystallizing in splendid crimson needles.
The hydriodide forms large, four-sided, thin, iridescent plates.
Nitric acid acts on the base in a similar way as on the methyl base,
elhylphosphinic add TO^C^U^E, being formed, a crystalline solid,
which melts at 44°, and at a higher temperature volatilizes without
decomposition. This compound is isomeric with ethylphosphorous
acid, from which it differs by being a bibasio acid whilst the latter
is monobasic; the constitution of the two acids being represented
by the following formulffl:—
Ethylphosphinio Acid. EthylnliosphorouB Acid.
PCK OH PCK OH
(OH (H
fC 8 5
Diethyl^ikospMne P< CgH6 is formed together with ethylphosphine,
tH
and isolated in the same way as the dimethyl-compound. It is a
colourless, light, refractive liquid, boiling at 85°, and having a neutral
reaction. The odour is penetrating and very persistent, but quite
different from that of ethylphosphine. It absorbs oxygen rapidly,
with much evolution of heat, the liquid sometimes taking fire. With
sulphur and carbon disulphide it forms liquid compounds, and with
acids salts, which, with the exception of the hydriodide, do not
crystallize well.
DiethylphospMnic Acid POJCCJHJJH is a liquid, and forms crystalline
salts.
fC3H6
TrieihylpkospMne P< CjHg.—>The hydriodide of this base is prol.j6
CH
duced by heating absolute alcohol with phosphonium iodide in sealed
tubes for some hours to 160°:—
3(C8H6.OH) + PH,I « (CJHJJPHI + 3HjO
Triethylphosphine is also formed by the action of zinc ethide upon
phosphorus trichloride. Phosphotus trichloride ia added drop by