contained in Coal-gas Naphtha, 203 



the substance which Fritzsche* discovered and named bro- 

 maniloid. Its composition is C 12 (H 4 Br 3 )N, that is cyanol, 

 in which three equivalents of hydrogen are replaced by a cor- 

 responding number of equivalents of bromine. 



This body is also procured by boiling cyanol with an excess 

 of bromine water; it falls to the bottom of the vessel as a dark 

 oily stratum. When cold, and the solution of hydrobromic 

 acid poured off, the solidified mass is washed with water and 

 then dissolved in boiling alcohol. During the filtration of 

 the liquid the salt is generally deposited in the tube of the 

 funnel in silky radiated crystals. In the same state it covers 

 the sides of the vessels in which it is sublimed. 



Action of Iodine upon Cyanol. — Iodine dissolves copiously in 

 cyanol, and in a short time there separates from the brown so- 

 lution, white, perfectly formed, elongated tables of hydriodate of 

 cyanol, which may be obtained pure by pressing them between 

 folds of bibulous paper, and washing with aether. Fritzsche + 

 has observed a similar decomposition with aniline. The mother 

 liquor contains another iodine compound which I have not 

 further examined. 



Action of Nitric Acid upon Cyanol. — I have already adverted 

 to the fact of cyanol mixing with dilute nitric acid without de- 

 composition ; however, if the anhydrous base be treated with 

 a few drops of fuming nitric acid, the liquid becomes of a beau- 

 tiful deep blue colour, resembling the ammoniuret of copper. 

 At a moderate temperature this blue colour is converted into 

 a yellow, accompanied by an extraordinary evolution of heat, 

 which sometimes amounts to an explosion. The liquid passes 

 through every shade of colour to the deepest scarlet, and upon 

 cooling is filled with a quantity of red tabular crystals, which 

 I rinsed with water. They had a bitter taste, and dissolved 

 with difficulty in boiling water. Potash produced immediately 

 in the solution an intense yellow colour, which permanently 

 tinged the skin ; and the liquor, upon cooling, deposited long, 

 yellow, iridescent shining prisms of carbazotate of potash. 



We might have anticipated the conversion of cyanol into 

 this acid. The whole of the carbon of the base remains in 

 the carbazotic acid ; 1 equivalent of cyanol and 6 equivalents 

 of nitric acid contain the elements of 1 equivalent of carba- 

 zotic acid, 4 equivalents of hyponitrous acid, and 4 equivalents 

 of water. 



1 equiv. Cyanol C 12 H 7 N 



+ 6 ... Nitric acid .... NgO^ 



C 12 H 7 N 7 O 30 



* Bullet. Scicnt. de St. Pitersb. 1843, t. i. p. 30. f Ibid. p. 103. 



