OF THE FIXED OILS IN CONTACT WITH SULPHUR. 



371 



ganic sulphuret, analogous to sulphuret of allyl, the constitution of which must 

 be represented by the formula Cg H3 S^, to which I give the provisional name of 

 Sulphuret of Odmyl (from oSm odor), and that the rational formula of the mer- 

 cury compound is — 



(Cs Hs S, + Hg, Cl.) + (Cs Hs S, + Hg, S). 



On contrasting this with the formula of the allyl compound, which is — 



(Q Hs Cl + Hg, Cl,) + (C„ H5 S + Hg, S2), 



two important points of diiference are apparent, namely, that in the-new com- 

 pound we have the sulphuret, and not the chloride, of the base in union with cor- 

 rosive sublimate, and the presence of subsulphuret in place of sulphuret of mer- 

 cury in the second member of the compound. It is even possible to approximate 

 more closely the formulse of the allyl and odmyl compounds, by assuming the 

 sulphuret of odmyl to be represented by Cj H4 S ; in which case, the mercury 

 compound becomes : — 



{3 (C4 H4 S) + Hg2 S,} + (Ci H4 Cl + Hg2 Cl). 



This formula is, however, incompatible with its reactions, as it involves the 

 presence of calomel in the compound. Treatment with caustic potash, however, 

 shews that this is not the case ; as it immediately becomes yellow, from the sepa- 

 ration of oxide of mercury, while the black suboxide would have been formed had 

 calomel been present. 



When a current of sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through the mercury 

 compound suspended in water, it becomes rapidly black, a peculiar smell is ob- 

 served, along with that of sulphuretted hydrogen, and, by distillation, an oil 

 passes over, which is obtained floating on the surface of the water. It is per- 

 fectly transparent and colourless. Its smell is peculiar, and resembles the nau- 

 seous odour developed by crushing some umbelliferous plants. When dissolved 

 in alcohol, it gives, with corrosive sublimate, a white precipitate, soluble in hot 

 alcohol, from which it is deposited in crystals precisely similar to those from 

 which it had been originally separated, and, with bichloride of platinum, a yellow 

 precipitate, slightly soluble in hot alcohol and ether. This oil is, in all probability, 

 the sulphuret of odmyl Cs Ha S^, but the small quantity in which I have been 

 able to obtain it, has prevented my performing any analysis of it. 



The Platinum Compound. When a solution of bichloride of platinum is added 

 to the alcoholic solution of the crude oil, a yeUow precipitate makes its appearance, 

 which does not fall immediately, but goes on gradually increasing for some time, 

 precisely as is the case with the allyl compound. The properties of this precipi- 

 tate are not, however, perfectly constant, but vary according to the portion of the 

 oil employed to yield it. That obtained from the more volatile portion has a fine 

 sulphur-yellow colour, but the less volatile oil gives an orange precipitate. It is 



VOL, XVI. PART III. 5 B. 



