A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

128 THE CHEMISTRY OF
mercaptan, this compound having the character of a weak acid
like hydrogen sulphide. By adding mercuric oxide to mercaptan
a violent reaction ensues, -water and mercuric mercaptide Hg(SC,H6)3
being formed (mercurio aptwn). This compound is insoluble in
water; from an alcoholic solution it crystallizes in white, silky
scales; it is readily decomposed by dry hydrogen sulphide, the products
being mercuric sulphide and mercaptan, which by this method
is readily obtained in a perfectly pure state.
rt TT \
Ethyl Sulphide p V I- S.—To prepare this compound ethyl chloride
is passed into a boiling alcoholic solution of potassium sulphide. It
is a mobile, colourless liquid, boiling at 91°, and possessing a nauseous
smell like mercaptan. Dilute nitric acid oxidizes it, ethyl sulpkoxide
( C J J H ^ O , an oily, non-volatile liquid, being formed. B y fuming
nitric acid it is transformed into diethylsulpltane (C 2H 6) 2SO 8, which
forms colourless crystals, fusing at 70° and boihug at 248°. B y
adding zinc and hydrochloric acid to its aqueous solution it is
reduced to ethyl sulphide, and on boiling it for some time with
nitric acid it is oxidized to ethylsulphonic acid.
Ethyl sulphide readily combines with ethyl iodide, forming triethyl-
sulphim ioaide §(QJI^L, a crystalline compound soluble in water,
and which by the action of water and silver oxide is converted into
triethylsulpftine hydroxide S(C,jH 6) sOH, a powerful base, forming deli-
quescent crystals and combining with acids, yielding well-defined
salts.
Ethyl Bisulphide Q 2 &sf' a colourless li ^ uid ' filing at 151 °»
having a very disagreeable smell, is formed by distilling a mixture
of potassium disulphide and potassium ethylsulphate, or by acting
with iodine upon sodium mercaptide:—
2C aH 6SNa + I a = 2NaI
COMPOUNDS OP ETHYL WITtt SELENIUM AND TELLMUBM.
These compounds are formed by reactions quite analogous to those
by which the sulphides of ethyl are obtained, the corresponding
metallic selenides and tellurides being employed in place of metallic
sulphides.
Ethyl Hydrosclcnidc, or Selenium Mercaptan ^ !• Se is a liquid
possessing a most intolerable smell, and forming with mercurio oxide
a cvystaUine mercaptide.
Ethyl Selenide Q8JJ 6 > Se is a yellow liquid with a most disagree-
able smell, which is oxidized by nitric acid to ethyl selenoxide