f 351 ) 



The aiuilvsis of tlic anodic gas sIio\v(m1 thai ils coiiipositioii is not 

 constant, particiilarly as regards the chlorine-content. For instance, 

 of the 88.3 cc. mentioned above only 6,7 c.c. consisted of Cl^ ; the 

 remainder consisted of COC\^ and CO^ with a little free (X and CO. 



The heavy, turbid liqnid was collected; on being washed with 

 water it generally at once solidifies. Yet, it seems as if the product 

 is not always the same in all conditions of temperature; for instance, 

 the mass resulting at 0° remained permanently- liquid under water 

 whereas the product jn-epared, as usual, at 22° generally solidified 

 suddenly like a strongly undercooled melt. This product, however, 

 has always the horrible odour wliicli reminds at once of chloral 

 and |)hosgene, and experimeiitiug with this substance consequently 

 becomes a veritable torment. 



It is decomposed bv water; after some time it disappears in the 

 licpiid of the electrolyte. In that decomposition it yields volnmes of 

 phosgene. The melting |)oint of the substance, after repeated pressing, 

 when determined in a capillary tube, was 32° — 34°. With water, it 

 yields COCl^, trichloroacetic acid and 6V'-ions. Hence, when heated 

 with KOH and aniline it gives the carbylamine-reaction, thus proving 

 the presence of CHCl^ which has formed from the CCl^COOH on 

 boiling with potassium hydroxide. 



Anahisis. The substance was prepared by electrolysis of a '21.1 ^l^ 

 trichloroacetic acid solution, a current of 1,11:) amp. and 17 volts 

 at 22°. 5 being used. It deserves notice that the liquid formed in the 

 electrolyte has always a somewhat lower temperature than the 

 surroundings. The substance was pressed many times and then dried 

 in a vacuum desiccator; 0.943 gram of the substance lost 0,3706 gr. 

 in weight thereby. 



The residual mass was then analysed in duplicate according to 

 Cariüs. Found 75,62 7o— 75.59 7„ average 75,61 7„ of CI 



The compound is, therefore, nothing else but iric/iloroacetic-tricfdoro- 

 iiietkyl-ester : CCL, . CO^ . CCl^ , — which requires 75,8 7„ of 67. 



This substance, I noticed, was indeed obtained by Elbs and Kuaatz 

 as electrolysis-product from the solution of the Na-, and Zn-sahs oi' 

 trichloroacetic acid. They, however, could not analyse it as it was 

 always obtamed by them contaminated with water and consequeatly 

 in a continuous state of decomposition. For this ester is decomposed 

 even by traces of water according to the equation: 



CCl, . CO . OCCl, 4- H,() = CCI3 . CO . OH + HCl +C0C1,, 



which also fully ex[)lains the formation of C(>CL^ at the anode and 

 that of HCl in the liquid. The melting point is given as 34°, therefore 



