198 Dr. A. W. Hofman on the Organic Bases 



Composition in per cents. 



6300-057 100-000 



This compound is distinguished, in reference to its consti- 

 tution, from the double salt of platinum; as the cyanol is in 

 this instance in direct combination with the chloride of mer- 

 cury, thus resembling the corresponding salt of nicotine, inves- 

 tigated by Ortigosa*, and the chloride of thiosinnamine and 

 mercury, analysed by Varrentrapp and Will f. 



The chloride of mercury and cyanol is sparingly soluble in 

 boiling alcohol, and is deposited again in crystals upon cool- 

 ing. It is also dissolved by hydrochloric acid; but when too 

 little of this acid is added, the undissolved portion on being 

 heated melts to a red oil, which covers the bottom of the tube ; 

 upon the addition of more acid the liquid clarifies, and depo- 

 sits gradually beautiful white crystals. I am not certain if this 

 is the unchanged mercury salt, or whether hydrochloric acid 

 enters into its composition. 



The mercurial compound is partially decomposed by boil- 

 ing water ; vapours of cyanol are liberated, and a canary-yellow 

 powder subsides, which is similar to that which Kane obtained 

 when boiling the chloro-amidide of mercury J. On cooling, 

 the chloride of mercury and cyanol separates from the liquid, 

 apparently unchanged. 



I have not examined the other salts of cyanol ; I shall there- 

 fore only remark that the phosphate is obtained as a crystal- 

 line mass, by bringing together anhydrous cyanol and ordinary 

 phosphoric acid. It is very soluble in water and alcohol. A 

 mixture of tartaric acid and cyanol solidifies in a similar 

 manner. From a hot watery solution the tartrate shoots into 

 long needles. 



The sulphite crystallizes when a watch-glass, moistened 

 with cyanol, is held over a flask from which sulphurous acid 

 is escaping. 



When an excess of an alcoholic solution of carbazotic acid 



* Liebig's Ann. B. xli. p. 114. 



•j- Liebig's Ausg. v. Geiger's Handb, p. 1172. 



J When chloro-amidide of mercury (HgCl + Hg N H 2 ) is boiled in water, 

 it is converted into a heavy yellow powder, which Kane has shown to he 

 composed of the double chloride and amide of mercury, with oxide of 

 mercury (Hg C1 + Hg N H 2 + 2 Hg O) . . 



