L SUL:URIC ACID, in chemistry, mono ethyl phate, Cal,.FISO., or acid sulphate of ethyl. consists of sulphuric acid, for one of whoseplaceable hydrogen atoms the organic radica!thyl," C,H,, has been substituted. Sul phovu acid may be prepared by heating a mixtusf equal parts of strong sulphuric acid and Ante alcohol to about 212° F., allowing it to ad for four hours, and then diluting the soon with water, and saturating it with bariumrbonate, or as an alternative, lead car bonate.The excess of sulphuric acid is therebyecipitated as barium sulphate, and the filtrate thich contains the barium salt of sul phovini.cid) is then evaporated to crystalliza tion. 'e crystals of barium-ethyl-suphate thus Wined are redissolved in water, and the barn is removed by the addition of an exactly uivalent quantity of sulphuric acid, the filtrr_ from this operation being subse quently aporated in a vacuum over a power ful dry; agent, such as calcium chloride. Pure sttiovinic acid is a colorless, syrupy liquid, w:h mixes readily with water and with alcohol, k which is insoluble in ether. It is a
strongly id substance, containing one atom of replaceab hydrogen; and it forms, with vari ous basest series of crystallizable salts which are all rdily soluble in water. Its aqueous solution composes slowly in the cold; and when head, it decomposes with the liberation of alcoholnd free sulphuric acid. Its alcoholic solution hen heated yields ether and sul phuric ac. It combines with the salts of various cyanic acids, with the formation of the corresmding ethyl ethers, or esters. Di ethyl sulplte, (C,H,),SO4, is a compound of this charaer, which is most conveniently pre pared by s,wly distilling absolute alcohol with concentrate sulphuric acid in a vacuum. The distillate searates into two layers, the lower of which insists of pure di-ethyl sulphate. It is an ily liquid with an odor resem bling that of peppermint. It is insoluble in water, i which, however, it decomposes slowly. If di-ethyl sulphate is heated in water it dcomposes rapidly into alcohol, sulphuric ad, and sulphovinic acid.