THE IMIDES OF THE AROMATIC SULPHONIC ACIDS. 13 



There is, apparently, no other substance formed by the 

 reaction between dibenzenesulphohydroxylaraine and sulphur 

 dioxide, besides those already mentioned. Neither benzenesulphinic 

 acid nor benzenesulphamide was detected among the products of 

 the reaction. Amidosulphonic acid was also tested for, by adding 

 mercuric nitrate to the solution after dibenzenesulphiraide had 

 been removed by means of mercurous nitrate, but it was found 

 to be absent. No ammonia or hyposulphate was detected. 



From what has been stated, it is clear that, by the action 

 of sulphur dioxide, the major portion of dibenzenesulphohydroxyl- 

 amine undergoes reduction to dibenzenesulphimide, the sulphur 

 dioxide being, at the same time, oxidised to sulphuric acid, a 

 portion of which goes to act upon the alcohol to form ethylsulphuric 

 acid. It is also clear that another portion of dibenzenesulpho- 

 hydroxylamine is converted into an acid substance, which contains 

 sulphur, but which is not sulphuric acid. That the formation of 

 this acid substance is also attended with the production of diben- 

 zenesulphimide is evident from the fact that the yield of diben- 

 zenesulphimide is greater than that corresponding to tlie total 

 sulphates that are formed (p. 5). We know further that ben- 

 zenesulplionic acid is formed in a considerable quantity (p. 8) 

 and, probably, also nitrous oxide (p. 10). It appears likely, 

 therefore, that the following change also occurs, besides the main 

 reaction : 



4HON(S02CoH5), + 11,0 - 2HN((J,H,3JSO,), + 4C,Jl3SO,lI + KO (2). 



That this change, which is independent of the action of sulphur 

 dioxide, actually takes place in aqueous alcoholic solutions of 

 dibenzenesulphohydroxylamine was ascertained from tlie study of 

 the spontaneous decomposition of the substance in alcohol. 



