The Reduction of an Alkali Nitrite by an 

 Alkali Metal. 



By 



Edward Divers, M. D., D. Sc, F. R. S., Prof., 

 Imperial University, Tokyo. 



What tlie products are which may result from the action 

 of sodium amalgam upon solution of sodium nitrate or nitrite 

 is already known. Schoenbein (1861) first observed the forma- 

 tion of nitrite by the action of metallic sodium upon solution 

 of a nitrate ; and de Wilde (1863) that nitrous oxide, nitrogen, 

 and ammonia are the products of the action of sodium amalgam 

 upon a solution of nitrate of potassium, sodium, or ammonium, 

 or upon one of nitrite of potassium. He found that, except 

 alkali hydroxide, nothing else is produced and in particular no 

 hydrogen. But, some years after (1870), it Avas recognised by 

 Fremy, aided by a suggestion of Maumene's, that hydroxy 1- 

 amine, or what appeared to be it, was a product of the reduc- 

 tion. Then came (1871) my own discovery of the hyponitrites, 

 together with the observation that alkali nitrates in solution 

 are largely convertible into nitrites by sodium amalgam, an 

 extension of Schoenbein 's experience. Lastly, Haga and I 

 (1896) proved that the actively reducing substance observed by 

 Fremy is actually hydroxylamine, as it had been taken to be 

 by Maumene and him, and not hydrazine as it might have 

 been. By a mistake, already pointed out and corrected by me 

 {Annalen, 1897, 295, 366) the discovery of the hyponitrites 



