XIII. Further remarks on the organo-metallic radicals, and observations more particularly directed to the isolation of mercuric, plumbic, and stannic ethyl

Before again entering on the subject of the organo-metals, the author wishes to call attention to the remarks he has previously made on the difficulties which presented themselves at that time in the preparation of mercuric ethyl. Secondary decompositions, induced by the nature of the materials employed and the high temperature necessary to the reaction, showed themselves even in the more easily prepared mercuric methyl, and reduced the quantity obtained considerably below that pointed out by theory. The loss sustained in the similar operation of distilling together cyanide of potassium and iodide of mercurous ethyl, C4 H5 Hg2 I, is yet more marked; and it may be remembered that the portion obtained did no more than suffice for a cursory examination of its most marked characters. A new mode of operating was therefore desirable, and it was not long before the following considerations presented themselves.