Potassium ethyl sulphate, hydrolysis

The solution of potassium ethyl sulphate can be concentrated on the water-bath without appreciable hydrolysis, and the sulphate finally crystallised out-... 

Hydrolysis of Potassium Ethyl Sulphate. Dissolve about i g. of the crystals in about 4 ml. of cold distilled water, and divide the solution into two portions, a) To one portion, add barium chloride solution. If pure potassium ethyl sulphate were used, no precipitate should now form, as barium ethyl sulphate is soluble in water. Actually however, almost all samples of potassium ethyl sulphate contain traces of potassium hydrogen sulphate formed by slight hydrolysis of the ethyl compound during the evaporation of its solution, and barium chloride almost invariably gives a faint precipitate of barium sulphate. b) To the second portion, add 2-3 drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid, and boil the mixture gently for about one minute. Cool, add distilled water if necessary until the solution has its former volume, and then add barium chloride as before. A markedly heavier precipitate of barium sulphate separates. The hydrolysis of the potassium ethyl sulphate is hastened considerably by the presence of the free acid Caustic alkalis have a similar, but not quite so rapid an effect. 

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