Ethyl, Nitrate of

C 2 H 5 NO 3 . Syn. Nitric ether , Nitrate of oxide of ethyl ; Æther nitric us , L. Prep. Nitric acid (sp. gr. about 1·375), 50 parts; nitrate of urea, a little (say 2 or 3 parts); di olve, add alcohol, 50 parts, and distil with the usual precautions, until 7-8ths of the whole (of the liquid portion) have pa ed over; agitate the distillate with a little water to separate the ether, and preserve the heavier portion. Prop., . Nitric ether po e es an agreeable sweetish taste and odour; it is insoluble in water; the alcoholic (but not the aqueous) solution of pota a decomposes it rapidly; sp. gr. 1·112. Its vapour is very apt to explode when strongly heated, and therefore a small quantity only should be prepared at a time.