2 ART, 17.— EDWARD DIVERS. 



Its interaction with organic oximes, in which it converts these 

 substances into peroxides and becomes hydrogenised into nitrous acid 

 (Scholl), is in accordance with its nature as a true peroxide. Simi- 

 larly, it converts a hydroxylaminedisulphonate into a peroxylamine- 

 sulphonate (Haga). 



Nitrosyl peroxide and a peroxylaminesulphonate both interact 

 with water in essentially the same way, the apparent difference being 

 due to the limits imposed by the sulphonation in the case of the latter 

 substance. '] he former yields half its nitrogen as nitric acid and half as 

 nitrous acid, whilst the latter yields half its nitrogen as a mixed anhy- 

 drosulphate (hydroxy laminetrisulphonate) and the other half as nitrous 

 acid and sulphonated nitrous acid (hydroxylaminedisulphonate): 



2NA + 2H a O=2HN0 3 +2HN0 2 ; 

 2N 2 O s (S0 3 K) 4 +H 2 0=2(SO a K> J N.O-S0 8 K+HO-NO + HON(S0 8 K> 2 . 



It would seem, therefore, that wholly on the evidence afforded by 

 Haga's work, it can now be confidently asserted that dinitric peroxide 

 is nitrosyl peroxide and a compound of exclusively tervalent nitrogen. 

 The constitution of mononitric peroxide, in regard to these two 

 points, remains to be considered, but can hardly be very different. 



Hantzsch and Semple have suggested (loc. cit.) that the bluish- 

 violet dissolved form of a peroxylaminesulphonate corresponds with 

 mononitric peroxide, and its crystalline form with dinitric peroxide. 

 Since then, Piloty and Schwerin (Joe. cit.) have expressed the belief 

 that porphyrexide, which has the colour of mononitric peroxide, may 

 also be a derivative of this peroxide, because it contains the group :NO 

 singly, as shown by the formula (C 5 II iSr 3 ) :NO. Its molecular 

 weight, however, has been only indirectly ascertained, that is, by 

 cryoscopic determinations of those of its nitrate and its chloro- 

 derivatives. That its molecular weight is not double as great is a 

 remarkable fact, for, in its chemical behaviour, and especially in its 



