282 E. DIVERS AND T. HAGA : 



second is novel like the first, the facts on which it is based having 

 been misunderstood ; tlie third has indeed been already enunciated, 

 but not with intention to limit it to a strict interpretation, and 

 only theoretically, without any experimental treatment of it ; and, 

 lastly, the fourth has been also made before and upon the basis 

 of experiment, but experiment quite inadequate to justify it. 



The establishment of these propositions, taken along with 

 what we have already published as to the constitution of Fremy's 

 salts will then allow of the further assertion being made, that 

 the interaction of nitrous acid with a pyrosulphite results in their 

 conversion into a two-thirds normal hydroximidosulphate (and 

 water), and that all the other sulphazotised salts are secondary 

 products simply derived. It is thus established that the only 

 interaction between sulphites and nitrites is one of the greatest 

 simplicity, instead of being full of complications, as hitherto 

 believed. 



I. — a. A Normal Sulphite inactive upon a Nitrite. 



Dipotassium or disodium sulphite is quite inactive upon a 

 nitrite. In establishing this fact wo have mixed solutions of 

 normal sulphite and nitrite in proportions varying in different 

 experiments, and left them in closely corked flasks, almost full, 

 for days and for weeks. No change has ever happened. When 

 coloured with rosolic acid, a drop of dilute acid would at any 

 time, as at first, discharge the colour. Had any action occurred, 

 alkali hydroxide must have been generated (as to the possibility 

 of which see sect. II. /;.). A portion of the solution to which 

 had been added a drop of dilute sulphuric acid reacquired the 

 pink colour of the rosolic acid when left to stand for some time 



