OXIMIDÜSULPHONATES OK SULP U AZOTATES. 43 



When iiioisteiied dipotassium oximidosulphonate hydrolyses 

 spontaneously, it ;iJso ,i;ives out at the same time much nitrous oxide 

 and a little nitrogen, while strons* hot solutions of it or of the 

 disodium salt effervesce a little when acidified. 



Dipotassium salt which has been preserved as far as possible in a 

 desiccat(3r, also effervesces when dis.solved in water, even iu ])resence of 

 an alkali. In these chanofes a little ammonia is also a'enerated. 



It thus appears that oximidosulphonates decompose in several 

 ways combined ; by reversion, by hydrolysis, and by secondary 

 reactions with tlie sulphurous acid generated by the other changes. 

 As products we therefore get in the first line, nitrite, sulphite, 

 oxyamidosulphonate, and sulphate. From the sulphite and oxyamido- 

 sulphonate we may get imidosulphonate liydrolysing to amidosul- 

 phonate. and from the sulphite and oximidosulphonate, nitrilosul- 

 phonate. By the hydrolysis oï the oxyamidosulphonate there will })e 

 got hydroxylamine, and by its reversion, hyponitrite. From the 

 hydroxylamine (jr from the amidosulphonate (slowly) may come 

 ammonia, and from the former in alkaline solution also nitrous oxide 

 and nitrogen. Xitrous oxide may also come from hyponitrite, and 

 from hvdroxvlamine and nitrous acid, and nitrogen from ammonia 

 and nitrous acid. Hut with all these possibilities before us, there are 

 points which remain obscure, particularly that in the acid-decom])Osi- 

 tion of oximidosulphonates nitrous oxide and nitrogen should be 

 evolved. 



Behaviour iclien heated. — The dipotassium salt hydrolyses with its 

 water »jf crystallisation quite suddenly when heated to 90° in a limited 

 s])ace, but by very gradual heating in a roomy air-bath it can be rendered 

 aidiydrous ;ind raised to 100° and a little above without change (Claus). 

 The disodium salt, which is anhydrous, can be safely heated to the same 

 extent. In a current of diied air Ijoth salts can be lieated much abo^^e 



