Sodium press

Fit a 750 ml, bolt-head flask (also by a rubber stopper) to a reflux water-condenser closed at the top by a calcium chloride tube ensure that flask and condenser are quite dr). Place 150 ml. of the dried ethyl acetate in the flask and add 15 g. of sodium. The sodium for this purpose should preferably be added in the form of wire directly from a sodium press (Fig. 55, p. 82) alternatively the sodium may be added as thin slices, but in this case each slice should be quickly pressed between drying-paper before being added to the acetate to remove the wet film which may have formed during the weighing and cutting of the metal. 

Metallic sodium. This metal is employed for the drying of ethers and of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. The bulk of the water should first be removed from the liquid or solution by a preliminary drying with anhydrous calcium chloride or magnesium sulphate. Sodium is most effective in the form of fine wire, which is forced directly into the liquid by means of a sodium press (see under Ether, Section II,47,i) a large surface is thus presented to the liquid. It cannot be used for any compound with which it reacts or which is affected by alkalis or is easily subject to reduction (due to the hydrogen evolved during the dehydration), viz., alcohols, acids, esters, organic halides, ketones, aldehydes, and some amines. 

Sodium wire, produced with a sodium press (Fig. II, 47, 1), is 6rst collected in sodium-dried ether, the necessary quantity removed, rapidly dried between 61ter paper,and transferred to the flask. Tlirn shavings of sodium, although less satisfactoiy may also be employed, but it is important to avoid undue exposure of the sodium to the atmosphere which produces a surface film of sodium hydroxide. 

The jet of a sodium press became blocked during use, and the ram was tightened to free it. It suddenly cleared and a piece of sodium wire was extruded, piercing a finger, which had to be amputated because of severe necrosis. Sodium in a blocked die should be dissolved out in a dry alcohol. 

Sodium plumbite solution, 1041 Sodium press, 164 Sodium sulphide, anhydrous, 197 use of, 574, 587... 

Sodium is widely used to dry hydrocarbons and ethers. It may be formed into wire using a sodium press or used as granules by cutting the bars under... 

Sodium ethyl mercaptide is prepared as a white suspension by the dropwise addition of 13 ml. (10.9 g. 0.18 mol) of freshly distilled ethanethiol (ethyl mercaptan) to 3.4 g. (0.1.5 mol) of sodium wire freshly extruded from a sodium press and suspended in 350 ml. of ether contained in a 500-ml. flask, t When mercaptide formation is complete, 6 g. (0.017 mol) of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazatriene NsPsCU, dissolved in 60 ml. of ether is added and the reaction mixture is stirred continuously for 48 hours at room temperature. Unreacted sodium ethyl mercaptide and the precipitated sodium chloride are filtered out over a mat of kieselguhr on a Buchner funnel. The oil which is obtained from the filtrate by evaporation is purified by... 

The jet of a sodium press became blocked during use, and the ram was tightened... 

A useful method is to prepare a lithium ribbon, about 1 cm broad and 1 mm thick, by means of a sodium press, passing this ribbon immediately into anhydrous ether and cutting the ribbon by scissors into pieces which are allowed to fall directly into the reaction solution. 

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