( 2 ) 



in 1900 — 1901. but the publication of wliich was postponed owing 

 to other studies whieli are not yet complete. 



In J895 ') and also afterwards'') I.obry dk Uhtvn, iu his studies 

 ou hydrazine, observed that yedo-w j)hos]iliorus in eoutacl with aqueous 

 livdra/.iue turns the soluliou lii-st yellow, then dark browji and tinally 

 Idack. After some time brownish black amorpiious tlakes arc dejK)sited. 

 As already stated, 1 submitted this reaction some years ago to a 

 closer examination and studied it, both with aqueous and with anhydrous 

 hydrazine. 



I. If we introduce into vacuum tubes 16 gr.(==:6 at.) yellow phos[ihoi'us 

 and 5 c.c. of a concentrated 90 "/„ (= 1 mol.) acpieous solution of 

 hvdi-a/ine and allow Ihese lo be in contact for 1 or 2 monlhs at 

 the ordinary leuq)erature the whole solidilies to a black amori»hous 

 mass iu which a white well-crystallised substaiu'c is distributed. Oji 

 opening Ihe lubes a large (piantity of hydrogen phosphide appears to be 

 present. As ju-elimiuary e.\|)('rinu'nls had shown that the white substance 

 was soluble in absolute alcohol luit not the black substances, the 

 tubes were tilled with absolute alcohol out of contact with the air, 

 the black substance was freed from the white crystals by repeated 

 washing ^vitli absolute alcohol and then di-ied over sulphuric acid 

 iu vacuum. 



The crystalline product obtained on evapimiting the alcohol, was 

 particularlv hygroscojnc. The analysis agreed best with the assumi)tion 

 that it consisted of hydrazine phos|dnte. Found 30.4 " '„ P and 

 12.37„ N (this was determined in a nitrometer by means ofvanadic 

 acid) "). If however notwitlislanding Ihe necessary [)recautions, the 

 sul^stance has al traded a good deal of moisture in the c<jurse of the 

 different manipulations, there is a possibility of its being hydrazine 

 hypophosphite *). 



The black mass is insoluble in alcohol, ether and carbon disulphide 

 and free from excess of yellow phosi>horus. It has an odour of 

 hydrogen phosphide; in contact witli the air it becomes moist and the 

 black colour changes to yellow. It contains chemically combined 

 hydrazine which, in conqmny with a little hydrogen phosphide, is 

 obtained on distilling with dilute sodium hydroxide and which could 

 be identilied by means of its dibenzaldehy de-derivative which melts 

 at 93°. 



1) Recueil 14. 87. 



3) Recueil 15. 183. 



^) Hoffmann and Kü.spert Ber. 31. 64, 



4) Sabanejeff, Z. anorg. Ch. 20. 21. (1899). 



