288 E. DIVERS AND T. HAGA ; 



slight reversion occurring at the ordinary temperature, to account for 

 the production of a little aldehyde (this vol., p. 23). 



It was shown by us (1895, this vol., p. 19) that potassium 

 nitrososulphate decomposes more slowly when dissolved in aqueous 

 alcohol than in water, and that from the salt and the alcohol there 

 are formed potassium hydroxide and potassium ethylsulphate, besides 

 nitrous oxide, potassium sulphate, and a very little aldehyde. In a 

 cold saturated solution of the salt in 23 per cent, spirit, about 14 per 

 cent, of the salt, it was then stated, interacted with the alcohol in this 

 way, the rest decomposing into potassium sulphate and nitrous oxide, 

 as usual. Another experiment, in which 14 per cent, spirit was used, 

 seemed to indicate that weaker spirit was more effective than stronger 

 in forming alkali and ethylsulphate, but the experiment was quantita- 

 tively incomplete. We have since ascertained the effect of using 15 per 

 cent., 5 per cent., and 2*5 per cent, spirit, estimating in each case, as be- 

 fore, the extent to which the alcohol had been active, by titrating the 

 potassium hydroxide. With 15 per cent, spirit, 10*8 per cent, of the salt 

 interacted with the alcohol ; with 5 per cent, spirit, only 4*8 per cent., 

 and with 2'5 per cent, spirit, less than 1 per cent, of the salt. 

 Evidently, therefore, water lessens the power of the alcohol to form 

 potassium ethyl sulphate. 



Luxmoore (J. Gh. Soc, 1895, 67, 1021) has opportunely shown 

 that a thermometer, with its bulb imbedded in potassium nitroso- 

 sulphate subjected to heat, marks 127° to 148°, according to circum- 

 stances, at the temperature at which the salt explodes ; for this obser- 

 vation agrees with Pelouze's statement that it does so at about 130°, 

 which was the only part of his description we had failed to adequately 

 justify. We had ascertained that the medium (air, oil), surrounding 

 thesalt, needed to be only from 91° to 108°, according to circum- 

 stances, to bring about the explosion, and it has now been established 



