( 2(>1) ) 



The concoi'dani and vcvy (Icliiiito results obtained during- the 

 measurements may in turn he taken as a [ji-oof lliat the standard- 

 eomparison solutions were trustworth3\ 



Experiments were made in aleohctUc sohiliun with hydroeidoric 

 acid as catalyzer. 



The results are briefly as follows : 



1. The reaction is one of the first order. 



2. The reaction constant is proportional to the concentration of 

 the hydrochloric acitl causing the transfoi-mation. In absolute efhvl 

 alcohol at 35° (time in hours) was foujid for 



i mol. HCl 2 mols. HCl 3 mols. IICI 



/.• = Ü.0081 0.018 0.026 



3. Addition of water causes a serious fall in the reaction con- 

 stant ; for instance, for t = 33° and 3 mols. HCl in abs. alcohol : 



7=0.026; in 92.5 7„ alcohol: /.• = 0.0026. 

 The water apparently a\ ithdraws a portion of (he hydrochloric acid 

 or renders it less active. 



4. The temperature coefficient is very great; about 5 for each 10°. 



We may therefore draw the general conclusion that the trans- 

 formation of the nitrosamines into the nitrosobases is a real intra- 

 molecular displacement of atoms. This is all the more likely if we 

 consider that in this case the velocity with which the transformation 

 j)roduct was formed, was measured. This result remains the same if 

 we suppose that at first (with unmeasurably large velocity) an 

 intermediate ailditive product was formed from the nitrosamine and 

 the hydrochloric acid acting as catalyzer. We then have, practically, 

 measured the transformation of the latter into the isomer; that trans- 

 formation however requires also an intramolecular rearrangement. 



We shall later on return to the possibility of the occurrence of 

 an intermediate })roduct. Further i)articulars will then be communi- 

 cated as to the action of other catalyzers and on the influence of 

 other solvents on the migration; experiments in this direction arc 

 already in progress. 



