The Interaction between Sulphites and Nitrites. 



Bv 



Edward Divers, M. D., D. Sc, F. R. S., Emeritus Prof., 



and 

 Tamemasa Haga, D. Sc, F. C. S., 



Professor, Tokyo Imperial University. 



The present paper gives an account of a series of experiments, 

 the results of which seem to leave no room for doubt as to the 

 truth of the following propositions respecting the sulphonation 

 of nitrites : — (1) normal sulphites are inactive upon nitrites ; 

 (2) pyrosulphites are not active to their whole extent upon ni- 

 trites ; (3) pyrosulphites are active in their entirety upon nitrous 

 acid or its equivalent of nitric oxide and nitric peroxide (nitrons 

 fumes) ; and (4) sulphurous acid and nitrous acid or the oxides 

 and water equivalent to them interact of themselves and in such 

 a way that the base of the sulphite, that may be used in place 

 of the sulphurous acid, is needed only to preserve from hydro- 

 lysis the products of their interaction. Concerning these asser- 

 tions we would point out that the first directly contradicts the 

 conclusions drawn by other workers from their experiments ; the 



