208
ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
RESULTS.
INGREDIENTS USED.
First stage.
' "\SECOND STAGE .
2 eq. Alcohol 46
/-l eq. Oxygen .. 8 -kl eq. Oxygen .. 8 .<1 eq. Hydrogen. 1/5 eq. Hydrogen Ji^4 ea. Carbon .. 24 .
2 eq. Protliyd 1 '. $ 2eq.Sulphurf.Ad.80Sulphur^. A d . i 2 eq. Water.... 18
2 eq. Prothyd r . Sulpliur c . A d .98
1 eq, Water ....
eq. Water.. 9
\eq. Ethereo-Sulp r . 11 eq. Ether .. 37-Ad . 117 t2eq.Sulphurc,Ad.S0\
2 eq. Binhydr. Sulpc. Ad. 116_
^4 eq. Prothyd r . ,Sulphurc.Ad.19tf
The ethereo-sidphuric acid of Liebig may be viewed as the hydrate ofsulpho-vinic acid (Hennell),—as a bisulphate of ether ,—as the hydratedbisulphate of etherine ,—or, lastly, as the bisulphate of the oxide ofethereum ( ethule ).
1 eq.Sulpho-vinicA d .(Hennell) 1081 eq. Water. 9
1 eq. Sulphuric Acid 80jl eq. Sulphuric A d .1 eq. Ether.37.1 eq. Etherine_
1 an Waffle
1 eq. Hydr' 1 . Sulpho-vinic A d . 117
leq. Hydr d .Bisulph e . 1 eq. Bisulphate Ox?.
Etherine . 117 1 Ethereum.117
The ethereo-sulphmic acid of Liebig must not be confounded with acompound of a similar name described by Magnus, and which contains,according to Liebig {op. cit.), neither sulphuric acid nor ether, but consistsof hyposulphuric acid and an organic substance (protoxide of etherine ?) jand its elementary composition is probably S’C'Il'O’.
During the distillation of ether, the relative proportions of the ingre-dients in the retort are constantly varying: the quantity of sulpho-vinicacid (ethereo-sulphuric acid, according to Liebig) is diminishing, whilethat of sulphuric acid is increasing; and, consequently, during theprogress of the process the boiling point of the liquid gradually rises.When it has arrived at about 340° F., and when, consequently, the sul-phuric acid is greatly in excess, the carbo-hydrogen and acid begin toreact on each other; the products of this reaction are water, sulphurousacid, and carbon: the latter blackens the liquid in the retort, while thesulphurous acid is distilled over with some water. Hence, therefore,as soon as “ a heavier portion” (i.e. an aqueous solution of sulphurousacid) is perceived under the ether in the receiver, the process is stopped;and when the liquid in the retort has become sufficiently cool, morerectified spirit is added, and distillation again performed.
The rectification of ether is intended to free it from alcohol, water,sulphurous acid, and oil of wine. It is ordered to be effected by theaddition of carbonate of potash and re-distillation. In order to separatealcohol from ether, the readiest method is to shake the ether with twiceits bulk of water; then pour it off, and remove the water which thewashed ether has dissolved, by adding some fresh burned lime, anddistilling the ether a second time.
Properties. —At ordinary temperatures ether is a colourless, verylimpid liquid, having a penetrating, peculiar, though somewhat fragrantodour; a hot, pungent taste, and a high refractive power. It is a badconductor of electricity. Absolutely pure ether has not been solidifiedby any degree of cold hitherto produced. The sp. gr. of pure etherat 68° F. is, according to Dumas and Boullay, 0713 (Braude’s Manualof Chemistry ). The ether of the shops contains a little alcohol, andits sp. gr. varies from O'733 to 0'765 : in the Pharmacopoeia the sp. gr.at 62° F. is fixed at 0750. Ether is extremely volatile: when of sp. gr.