1 76 Dr. Kolbe's Contributions to the 



product, not further examined : there remains bisulphale of 

 potash mixed with charcoal. 



The lead salt, PbO + Cg Hg, 83 O5 + aq, crystallizes by 

 spontaneous evaporation in large prisms: it has a feeble acid 

 reaction, a sweetish taste, and when dried at 100° C. is anhy- 

 drous. By boiling with oxide of lead a basic salt is produced, 

 PbO + C2 H3 S2 O5 + 2 PbO, which becomes dull by expo- 

 sure to the air from the separation of carbonate of lead, and 

 in a vacuum dries up into an amorphous saline mass. 



The silver salt, AgO + €3 H3, 83 O5, admits of evapora- 

 tion by heat, and only becomes slowly blackened by exposure 

 to the light. It crystallizes in small, thin, anhydrous laminae, 

 and by a red heat leaves pure metallic silver. All the four 

 conjugate hyposulphates agree further in not uniting with 

 oxide of ethyle to form an aether. In respect to its composi- 

 tion, the hyposulphate of chloro-carbon is ranked with the 

 oxalate of chloro-carbon, or the combination which is known 

 under the name of chlor-acetic acid. 



Oxalate of chloro-carbon, HO + Cg CI3 Cg O3. — As re- 

 spects the chemical properties of this compound, I have but 

 little to add to the minute investigations of Dumas, as I found 

 that Melsen's statement as to the reproduction of acetic acid by 

 means of the potassium amalgam was perfectly corroborated. 

 Respecting its formation, I may mention that it can be also 

 obtained from the oxidation of chloral by fuming nitric acid, 

 or with a mixture of chlorate of potash and muriatic acid, — 



C4 CI3 HO2 + O2 = HO + Cg CI3 C2 O3. 



Further, chloral is to oxalate of chloro-carbon what alde- 

 hyde is to acetic acid. This body, about the constitution of 

 which there have already been so many opinions expressed, 

 is also to be considered as a conjoined compound of formylic 

 acid with perchloride of carbon, Cg CI3 O2 HOg, an opinion 

 which not only shows the oxidation to form oxalate of 

 chloro-carbon, but also explains simply and sufficiently the 

 origin of aldehyde and the known decomposition into per- 

 chloride of formyle and formic acid. 



Perchloride of carbon and oxalic acid can unite to form 

 oxalate of chloro-carbon, if they are brought together at the 

 moment of their production. This takes place if chloride of 

 carbon (C CI) is exposed, under a layer of vt^ater, with chlo- 

 rine to the sunlight. One part of the perchloride of carbon 

 produced is decomposed in the nascent state by water to form 

 muriatic acid and oxalic acid ; the latter of which unites with 

 another part of the perchloride of carbon, thus — 

 2C2 ClglHO -f C 2 CI 3C2 O3 



'} 



4HO r 3HC1 



