CONSTITUTION OP NITKOSOSULPHATES. \Q[) 



ing the solution in alcohol. But this by no means follows of necessity, 

 for it must be borne in mind that addition of alcohol greatly lessens 

 the power of the water to dissolve the salt. Now, the decomposition 

 of the salt by alcohol is alternative to that by water, but not opposed 

 to it, so that in connection with the reaction with alcohol, the water 

 may be regarded as merely the vehicle for the salt and the alcohol, and 

 then we see that, provided these are present in molecular proportions, 

 more alcohol can only serve to make need for the presence of more 

 water to keep the salt dissolved, since this is not acted upon by alcohol 

 when not in solution. The more water there is present, the more 

 attenuated is the salt exposed to the action of the alcohol. Thus, with 

 14-45 grams of salt in solution in 212 grams of 14 per cent, spirit, 

 there was twice as much salt in a given volume as there w T as where 

 46*25 grams of salt were dissolved in 1450 grams of 24 per cent, 

 spirit, while in both cases the alcohol present was far in excess of one 

 molecule, being even in the dilute spirit nearly ten times the molecular 

 quantity. Even if the chemical activity of the water is considered, 

 still the water is present in much smaller proportion to the salt in the 

 dilute spirit than in the stronger. The matter is an interesting one, 

 but needs more work to be done in connection with it, before any- 

 thing can be safely concluded about it. 



That the salt, which we had obtained, was potassium ethyl 

 sulphate, was ascertained by qualitative and quantitative tests. It was 

 a neutral, exceedingly soluble, somewhat deliquescent salt, forming 

 pearly plates, and giving no insoluble salt with any reagent. A 

 concentrated solution boiled soon contained sulphuric acid; a dilute 

 solution boiled for some time remained free from it. In a solution 

 acidified with hydrochloric acid and boiled, decomposition quickly 

 began but was not complete until the solution had been heated under 

 pressure. When acidified and rapidly heated in a sealed tube to 150°, 



