270 PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



it in aqueous solution, but on the addition of alcohol a barely per- 

 ceptible red color appeared. Amnionic hydrate even in dilute aqueous 

 solution dissolved it easily with a brown color ; the solution turned 

 blacker when the attempt was made to drive off the excess of ammo- 

 nia on the water bath, and a white scum formed on the surface, 

 probably the original substance. The behavior of this solution was 

 studied with some of the commoner reagents ; but, as it showed such 

 evident signs of decomposition, we did not think it worth while to 

 extend this work to salts of all the basic radicals. 



Ferric salt, cupric salt, silver salt, and lead salt all gave brown 

 ilocculent precipitates. 



Calcium salt gave no precipitate. 



Barium salt, a very slight dirty brown precipitate, but none if the 

 solution had not been warmed on the water bath in the vain attempt 

 to drive off the excess of ammonia. 



Strong sulphuric acid dissolved the dimalonic ester, giving a color- 

 less solution. Strong hydrochloric acid had no action upon it, whether 

 hot or cold. Strong nitric acid dissolved it partially in the cold, 

 giving a yellowish solution, which when warmed became darker 

 yellow ; but if the warming on the water bath was continued for some 

 time, the acid liquid became red, and a red viscous substance was 

 also obtained, which, after washing with water and crystallization from 

 alcohol, was converted into yellow plates melting at 104°-105° in the 

 crude state. It is evident that the action here is similar to that of 

 bromtrinitrophenylmalonic ester with strong nitric acid, but the end 

 of the term has prevented us from continuing the study of this sub- 

 stance at present. 



