1:14 Dis. Blyth and Hoftttamii\dft^j^ip,xu<;^ 



^iiSjCQpyersiQn, into styroI^jfoUows iti nitric. )ac*^ 



as the decomposing agent. " .ojfiw io .iingOt'EI'O hiui bioB 



'-'^''^'^ l'^ Action ofMrth M^^'^lfea^^PiH^t n *^J 

 ^, Jt^iijvmetastt/role. — Common nitric acid, either waritt'Or e61d, 

 'attacks metastyrole but little. Even strong fuming nitric acid 

 acts but feebly in the cold, but on the application of heat dis- 

 solves it quickly with the evolution of red fumes. If a suffi- 

 cient quantity of nitric acid has not been employed, the new 

 product is precipitated on cooling in the form of a slimy sub'- 

 stance. On the other hand, if the acid has been in excess, 

 the fluid remains quite clear, from which, on the addition o^ 

 water, a white curdy mass, which sometimes has a shade df 

 yellow, is precipitated. This is washed with water to remove 

 all trace of nitric acid, and afterwards boiled in alcohol to get 

 rid of any trace of benzoic acid which may have been formed 

 from styrole still remaining in the pores of the metastyrole,; J 



The body thus obtained, and for which we propose the 

 name of nitrometastyrole, is when dry in the form of a white 

 or yellowish, completely amorphous powder, insoluble in 

 aether, alcohol and water, but soluble in fuming nitric and in 

 sulphuric acid. By the application of a gentle heat it burns 

 with a slight deflagration, like many bodies which possess the 

 elements of hyponitric acid, and with a strong odour of oil of 

 bitter almonds. As the physical properties of this body do 

 not indicate any certainty of its purity, it was burnt to ascer- 

 tain this point as nearly as possible. After some analyses 

 it was recognised that the new product of decomposition re- 

 tained traces of undecomposed metastyrole, from the nitric 

 acid solution becoming very turbid on cooling. This fact was 

 proved by dissolving the substance in concentrated sulphuric 

 acid, when the undecomposed metastyrole remains undis- 

 solved. On the other hand, by boiling the solution of meta- 

 styrole too long in the nitric acid, a mixture was obtained, 

 on precipitating with water, consisting for the most part of 

 nitrometastyrole, and of a second product containing Jess 

 carbon and more nitrogen. dociia 



Nitrometastyrole is obtained pure by dissolving metastyrole 

 in a quantity of acid sufficient to hold it in solution on cool- 

 ing. Nitric acid must be added to the hot solution as long 

 as it is observed to become turbid on pouring a few drops out 

 into a watch-glass. uo 



The analysis of the substance prepared in this way gawe 

 the following results : — aup 



I. 0'3235 grm. of nitrometastyrole gave 0'7230 grm, of qar- 

 bonic acid and 0*1325 grm. of water. a 



