CHEMISTRY. 413 



Synthesis of Ammonium Cyanide by Electricity^ by A. Figuier. — By 

 passing? a current of silent electricity through a mixture of one volume 

 of methane and two volumes of nitrogen, cyanide of ammonium is lormed 

 and noticeable by its odor. 



The product was collected and its identity established. (Comptes Ren- 

 dus, cii, 694.) 



Synthesis of Mellitic Acid and of other Benzocarhonic Acids by Elec- 

 trolysing Water irith Carbon Electrodes, by A.Bartoli and G. Papasogli. — 

 By the electrolysis of distilled water with electrodes of pure carbon and 

 a battery having an electromotive force equal to 1,200 Daniells, the 

 authors obtained a black insoluble deposit (mellogen) and a very acid 

 liquid which was found to contain mellitic, pyromellitic, hydromellitic, 

 and hydropyromellitic acids. During the electrolysis carbon monoxide 

 and dioxide with very little oxygen were evolved. Mellogen purified 

 by precipitation from the aqueous solution by hydrochloric acid forms 

 an amorphous, neutral, black, and friable body, insoluble in alcohols 

 and soluble in water, to which it imparts an intensely black color. Mel- 

 logen dried at 140^" has the composition C11H2O4, and has some analogy 

 with Brodie's grai)hitic acid CUH4O5, but the two bodies are not iden- 

 tical. Oxidizing agents convert it into benzo-carbonic acids. (Annales 

 Chim. Phys. [6J, vii, 349 and 364.) 



Products of the Electrolysis of a Solution of Ammonia with Colce Elec- 

 trodes, by A. Millot. — A solution of ammonia containing 50 per cent, was 

 electrolyzed with electrodes of coke purified by chlorine, and the chief 

 products are an azulraic matter (which the author is still studying), urea, 

 ammelide, biuret, and guauidine. The urea and guanidine probably 

 arise from action of nascent carbon dioxide on ammonia with elimina- 

 tion of water. Biuret is probably formed by the action of carbon diox- 

 ide on guanidine, and ammelide from the action of this gas upon biuret 

 with the co-operation of urea. Cyanuric acid was sought but not found. 

 These results differ from those of Bartoli and Papasogli, who added salt 

 to the ammouiacal solution to render it a better conductor, and the nas- 

 cent chlorine resulting destroyed the above-mentioned j)roducts. 

 (Comptes Rendus, cm, 153.) 



Identity of Cadaverine icith Pentamethylendiamine^ by A. Ladenburg. — 

 Brieger in the course of his remarkable researches on ptomaines isolated 

 from a cadaver a base having the formula C5H14K2, and which he named 

 cadaverine. This base was also discovered in decomposing fish. 

 Brieger, noting the resemblance in properties between cadaverine and 

 pentamethylendiamiue, sent a small specimen of the former to Laden- 

 burg for investigation. The latter chemist found the reactions of the 

 two bodies similar in all respects except in their behavior with mercuric 



