132 PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



tions were carried out in the same apparatus as that used above in the 

 case of the sodium salt. The mercury salt is placed in the distilling 

 flask, and 10-15 c.cin. water added; after removing the air, dilute 

 hydrochloric acid is added by means of the separatory funnel, and the 

 solution is then heated to boiling. In the case of the aldehyde de- 

 termination, the distillate is treated with powdered calcic carbonate, 

 in order to remove the hydrochloric acid carried over, and then 

 redistilled. 



1 gram salt gave 39 c.cm. NgO at 23° and 748 mm., corresponding to 



98 per cent of the theory. 

 1 gram salt gave 38 c.cm. NoO at 22° and 748 mm.^ corresponding to 



95.6 per cent of the theory. 

 4.5 grams salt gave 1.77 grams silver acetate, i.e. 72.9 per cent of the 



theoretical amount. 



The analysis of the silver acetate, recrystallized from water, gave 

 the following result. 



0.3831 gram substance gave 0.2468 gram silver. 



Theory for 



CHgCOoAg. Found. 



Ag 64.G7 64.42 



Nitroethane-mercuric-chloride has thus been split by the acid, chiefly 

 according to the following equation : 



2 CHs-CH = N-OHgCl + 2 HCl 

 II 

 O 



= 2 CH3CHO + N2O + HoO + 2 HgCV 



Nitrous acid and hydroxylaminehydrochloride (0.4 gram crude salt 

 from 10 grams) are side products formed in this decomposition. 



Decomposition of Sodic Nitromethane by means of Acids. 



Sodic nitromethane can be obtained from nitromethane by treating 

 it in absolute ethereal solution with sodium wire, or by means of 

 alcoholic sodic hydrate according to the method of V. Meyer. It is, 

 however, best formed by addition of an alcoholic solution of sodium 

 ethylate to an alcoholic solution of nitromethane. 30 grams nitrome- 

 thane yield thus regularly from 45 to 50 grams of the sodium salt, 

 which at first contains, as V. Meyer has shown, one molecule of 

 alcohol, 



CHgNOsNa + C.HgO ; 



