134 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



In the decomposition of sodic nitromethane by acids, a splitting 

 takes place, but in subordinate amount, according to the equation 



2 CH2 = NONa + 2 HCl = 2 CH2O + N2O + HgO + 2 NaCl ; 



II 

 O 



which is entirely analogous to the decomposition of nitroethane salts. 

 The reason for this difference is also perfectly clear and will be ex- 

 plained farther on. 



It is possible, but only under very special conditions and in subordi- 

 nate amounts, to regenerate nitromethane from its sodium salt;* in all 

 cases a very decided decomposition takes place, as will become evident 

 from the following experiments, 10 grams sodic nitromethane, made 

 by means of sodium ethylate and kept 10 hours in a vacuum over 

 sulphuric acid, are dissolved in water containing pieces of ice, and then 

 dilute sulphuric acid is added very slowly. As soon as the solution 

 becomes acid, a smell of formaldehyde is noticed, as well as the pres- 

 ence of nitrous acid and of nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. 20 c.cm. 

 of the solution f is then distilled off (until no smell of nitromethane 

 can be noticed in the flask) and the distillate extracted with ether. 

 The ethereal solution, carefully fractionated, gave 1.9 grams nitrome- 

 thane, boiling between 99° and 101°. An entirely analogous result is 

 obtained from a solution of nitromethane in caustic soda or potash. 



Decomposition of Secondary Sodic Nitropropane by Acids. 



Secondary nitropropane was made according to the directions of 

 V. Meyer.j The yield is very poor. The sodium salt was made by 

 means of alcoholic sodium ethylate, and dried over sulphuric acid in a 

 vacuum. 



On treatment of an aqueous solution of this salt with dilute acids, a 

 fairly smooth decomposition into acetone and nitrous oxide, according 

 to the equation 



CH CH 



2 '^C=:N-ONa+2HCl = 2 '^CO-f N2O+ HgO -h2NaCl 

 CH3/ II CH3/ 



O 



takes place, — a reaction which is perfectly analogous to the decompo- 

 sition of salts of primary nitroparaffines. 



* No statements concerning this point could be found anywhere. 

 t Preibisch, Journ. f. prakt. Chemie, [2.], VIII. 311. 

 \ Ann. Chem. (Liebig), CLXXT. 40 



