54 JOURNAL OF THE 



Ferric Camphorate. A strong solution of ferric chloride 

 was precipitated with potassium camphorate, a bulky yel- 

 lowish precipitate was formed, quite insoluble in water and 

 hence easily washed. This gave on drying at ioo° a buft- 

 yellow powder. An analysis of this powder gave the per- 

 centage of iron as 19.34. The calculated percentage for 

 F^2 (^10 H,4 OJs is 15.86, This powder was then probably a 

 subcamphorate. It was treated once more with a moderately 

 strong solution of ferric chloride and again thoroughly 

 washed. Analysis of this gave p.c. Fe=" 18.84 ^^id 18.90. 



Mercuric Camphorate. A white heavy precipitate is 

 formd in a. concentrated solution of mercuric chloride on 

 adding potassium camphorate. This was washed thoroughly 

 and dried at ioo°c. It forms a heavy white powder. 



Analysis. 



I. .4400 gramme of substance jielded .2150 grammes Fg. 



II. .3ci40 " " " " .1920 



calculated found in I. in II- 



Hg. 50.25 4«86 50.00 



ClO H14 O4 



Chem. Laboratory, U. N. C. 



DECOMPOSITION OF POTASSIUM CYANIDE. 



I. n. MANNIJIG. 



Under the head of "Condensation of hydrocyanic acid" 

 (Berichteder, d. chem. Ges. 18,1875) von der Pfordten dis- 

 cusses the discoloration produced in solutions of potassium 

 cyanide by the addition of free acids, or of certain salts, or 

 by simple heating the cyanide alone. This phenomenon 

 was examined and studied to a certain extent by Mr. Wilkes 

 in the first number of our journal (p. 19.) Herr von der 

 Pfordten speaks of the decomposition of the cyanide on heat- 

 ing some hours in a test-tube placed in a water bath, as being 

 due "probably to the long continued action of the carbon 

 dioxide of the air." That this could not be the case was 

 shown by Mr. Wilkes, who proved that the decomposition 

 took place in the cold with all carbon dioxide carefully 

 excluded. 



The following experiment were undertaken to test th^ 

 conclusion of Mr. Wilkes: 



I. A saturated or nearly saturated solution of pure po- 

 tassium cyanide was placed in a tube which was then sealed. 

 Only a very nimute amount of carbon dioxide could have 

 been present, yet the various changes of color were observed 

 and after some weeks the liquid had become black and a 

 blackish deposit had formed. 



