NEF. — NITROPARAFFINE SALTS. 131 



of nitroethane, since on treatment with sodic nitrite 5 grams of ethyl- 

 nitrolic acid were obtained from it. 



An entirely analogous result is obtained on adding very slowly 

 dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid to an aqueous solution of sodic 

 nitroethane (made by means of sodium ethylate). 



It is also possible to obtain traces of nitroethane on adding very 

 slowly an aqueous solution of the sodium salt to dilute sulphuric acid, 

 cooled with pieces of ice. The chief reaction in this case is, however, 

 decomposition into acetaldehyde and nitrous oxide. 



Decomposition of Nitroethane-mercuric-chloride by means of Acids. 



Nitroethane-mercuric-chloride was obtained by addition of corrosive 

 sublimate (one molecule) to an aqueous solution of sodic nitroethane. 

 Since V. Meyer determined only the percentage of chlorine and mer- 

 cury in the salt,* the substance, after drying for 24 hours in a vacuum, 

 was analyzed for carbon and hydrogen. 



0.6849 gram substance gave 1949 gram CO2 and 0.0813 gram HgO. 



Theory for 

 CaHiNOaHgCl. Found. 



C 7.75 7.76 



H 1.30 1.34 



The former statements concerning the properties of this salt could 

 be confirmed except in one particular. V. Meyer mentions * that 

 acids regenerate nitroethane. I found it impossible, under any condi- 

 tion, to obtain from this salt even a trace of nitroethane. 



Dilate nitric acid and sulphuric acid act upon the salt very slowly 

 in the cold, forming acetaldehyde and nitrous oxide : dilute hydro- 

 chloric acid reacts with great violence upon it, decomposing it into 

 nitrous oxide and acetaldehyde. A large amount of the mercury salt, 

 suspended in water, was treated in the cold with hydrogen sulphide, 

 and thereupon the solution was partially distilled off. The distillate 

 contained an oil which is neutral and smells strongly of thioaldehyde, 

 but in which not a trace of nitroethane could be detected by means of 

 the very delicate ethylnitrolic acid reaction. 



As mentioned above, nitroethane-mercuric-chloride is decomposed 

 by addition of dilute hydrochloric acid into nitrous oxide and acetalde- 

 hyde ; the reaction is accompanied by a decided evolution of heat, and 

 a greenish-colored solution is obtained. The quantitative determina- 



* Ann. Chem. (Liebig), CLXXI. 31. 



