312 hitelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



and the liquor, which hardly becomes coloured, contains hydriodate 

 of raethylamine IH, C^ H* N. The red insoluble compound formed 

 as described is analogous to iodide of nitrogen. 



The salts of magnesia, alumina, manganese, iron, bismuth, chro- 

 mium, uranium, tin, lead and mercury, are precipitated by methyla- 

 mine as they are by ammonia. 



The salts of zinc are at first precipitated, and of a M'hite colour; 

 but the precipitate redissolves in a large excess of the reagent ; the 

 salts of copper are precipitated of a bluish-white colour; excess re- 

 dissolves the precipitate, forming a solution of a deep blue colour; 

 the salts of cadmium, nickel and cobalt, are precipitated by the so- 

 lution of methylamine, but excess does not redissolve the precipitates. 



Nitrate of silver is completely precipitated by methylamine ; the 

 oxide of silver dissolves readily in an excess of the reagent. When 

 this solution is suffered to evaporate spontaneously, a black substance 

 is precipitated which is analogous to fulminating silver. This sub- 

 stance does not explode either by a blow, or by the action of heat ; 

 chloride of silver itself dissolves in solution of methylamine. 



Chloride of gold is precipitated of a brownish-yellow ; an excess 

 readily dissolves the precipitate, forming an orange-coloured solu- 

 tion. A concentrated solution of chloride of platina gives with me- 

 thylamine a crystalline deposit in orange-coloured scales, consisting 

 of a double hydrochlorate of methylamine and platina. 



Ethylamine. — This base was obtained by decomposing hydro- 

 chlorate of ethylamine by lime, in the same manner as methylamine. 

 Excepting that as ethylamine condenses readily, and is liquid at 

 common temperatures, the delivery-tube is surrounded with ice, or 

 still better by a freezing mixture ; the ethylamine distilled at a mo- 

 derate heat condenses in the receiver. 



In a pure state, it is a light, very moveable, and perfectly limpid 

 liquid. It boils at about 64° F. When poured on the hand it vo- 

 latilizes, instantly producing very considerable cold. It gives out 

 an extremely penetrating ammoniacal odour ; its causticity may be 

 compared to that of potash. Ethylamine renders litmus paper which 

 has been reddened strongly blue; when exposed to hydrochloric 

 acid it yields dense white vapours. Every drop of acid added to it 

 produces a whistling at the moment of its mixing with the base. 

 Barytes and potash remain in contact with it at common temperatures 

 without alteration. When exposed to flame, ethylamine takes fire 

 and burns with a bluish flame. It mixes with water in all propor- 

 tions, giving out much heat, and yielding a solution the basic pro- 

 perties of which are exactly similar to those of methylamine ; hydrate 

 of copper is, however, most readily soluble in ethylamine. 



Chloride of platina is not precipitated by ethylamine. When a 

 solution of ethylamine is mixed with oxalic aether, the mixture soon 

 becomes turbid ; alcohol is formed ; very slender crystals separate 

 of a compound which is to oxamide what ethylamine is to ammonia ; 

 it is ethyloxamide, the composition of which is represented by 

 Q6 116 ]^2 o^^. The composition of anhydrous ethylamine is repre- 

 sented by the formula C* H^ N. 



