so ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



was found to be very rapidly diminished by this method. Some salts 

 when dissolved in it give values for the molecular conductivity increas- 

 ing normally with dilution, others behave abnormally. The migration 



ratios of k and i were determined and found to be different from 

 those of the same ions in aqueous solution. Potassium iodide is found 

 to yield a compound with acetamide. 



4. A Quantitative Study of the Interaction of the Alcohols with 

 the Halides of Phosphorus. 



In conjunction with Fred, M, G, Johnson, M,Sc, 

 The action of alcoholic substances upon the phosphorous halides 

 is known to give rise on the one hand to the alkyl halides, on the other 

 to the halogen acids. Consequently two equations are employed to 

 represent the reaction, viz., PCI3 + 3A0H = 3AC1 4- P(0H)3, and 

 PCI3 + 3 AOH = 3 HCl 4- P(0A)3 where A represents an alkyl 

 radicle. Since both ACl and HCl are produced simultaneously neither 

 equation represents the actual course of the reaction. A quantitative 

 study of several cases where both PCI3 and PBr3 have been emploj^ed 

 along with methyl, ethyl and n-propyl alcohols shows that in no case 

 are more tJian two molecular quantities or alkyl halide obtained. The 

 reaction between m.ethyl alcohol and phosphorus tribromide yields two 

 molecules, hence the equation is: — 



PBr3 + 3 CH3OÏÏ = 2 CHgBr + HBr + P(OII)20CH3. 



Both ethyl and propyl alcohols yield M-ith phosphorus trichloride only 

 one molecule of alkyl halide, hence the equations: — 



PCI3 + 3 C.H.OH = C,H.C1 + 2HC1 + P(OC,H,)jOH, 

 and PCI3 + 3 03H,0H = CjH.Cl + 2HC1 + P(OC3H,)20H, 



In other instances, amounts intermediate between these two were ob- 

 tained, so that they cannot be represented by any simple equation, 



5. The Production of the Aliphatic Amines from Ammonia and 

 the Alkyl Halides. 



In conjunction with Annie L, MacLeod, M,Sc. 



Earlier observers have reported that, as a general rule, in this re- 

 action a complex mixture of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary 

 bases are obtained along with ammonium salt. This makes the prepara- 

 tion of any individual amine in pure condition a difficult and costly 

 matter. Menschutkin professed to have found a simple method, how- 

 ever, by performing the reaction in benzene instead of in aqueous or 



