E. DIVEKS AND T. HAGA 



Oximidosulphcntaics prepared by the direct use 

 of sulphite. 



Introduction. — Claus supposed himself to use the norma] or 

 dipotassmm sulphite but, it is clearly evident, used in reality mainly 

 the metasulphite. The 'neutral ' (or meta) sulphite therefore is to be 

 taken in the proportion of ' Jess than four' molecules, or "2 KoSaU,,, to 

 one of the nitrite, KNO. ; Avith more than tour molecules only nitrilo- 

 sulphonate — N(S03K)3 — separates, and even with less than four much 

 of this salt is produced ; both salts are almost insoluble, but the l<jose 

 tine needles of the nitrile can l)e mechanically washed away from the 

 large crystals of the oximide ; the solutions used are not to be too 

 dilute; the yield of oximidosulphonate is very small. We can confirm 

 Claus's account of this very unproductive process. 



To prepare the neutral salt Kaschig runs into a mixtm-e of the 

 solution of one molecular proportion ofsodiimi nitrite with ice, a solu- 

 tion of two molecular proportions of sodium disulphite (/. t'., one mol. 

 of metasulphite), adds two molecules of potassium chloride in (^old 

 saturated solution, and leaves the whole to crystallise. Nitrile forms, 

 as well as oximide, and the two salts are to be separated by elutriation, 

 as directed by Claus. The yield of j)otassium salt is stated to be about 

 half the calculated quantity. No mention is made in the memoir in 

 the Anualen, or in the papers in the Berichte, of a similar proceeding 

 with potassium nitrite and sulphite to get the potassium oximidosul- 

 phonate direct, the above indirect process obviously being resorted to 

 as superior to it. But in the specification for the patent, which of 

 course preceded the publication of the memoir, Raschig did give the 

 direct method. His process has proved successful in our hands but 

 less so than in his. 



