BUNSEN ON THE CACODYL SERIES. 301 
‘oxide of cacodyl, with highly concentrated muriatic acid; then 
dry the product thus obtained over chloride of calcium and cau- 
stic lime, without bringing it in contact with water at all; and, 
lastly, distil it in a tube hermetically sealed at both ends, pre- 
viously filled with carbonic acid. 
Kd O + Hg, Cl, ‘}- {10 oy 
H Cl Hg, Cl, 
The substance prepared in this way is a sieateatly limpid liquid, 
of an zthereal odour, does not solidify at — 45° C., becomes 
gaseous at a temperature a little above 100° C., and inflames 
‘spontaneously on contact with air. Heated alone it burns 
with a pale arsenious flame, and deposits either arsenic or ar- 
senious acid, according to the quantity of air present. It ex- 
plodes violently when heated in a confined atmosphere of oxygen. 
It deposits beautiful transparent crystals on slowly admitting 
the air. It inflames spontaneously in chlorine, and burns with 
the formation of a large quantity of carbon. It does not smoke 
in contact with air, but diffuses the most dreadfully pungent 
and suffocating odour, which far surpasses that of alcarsin. It 
produces a great irritation in the mucous membrane of the nose 
with inflammation, and causes the eyes to be suffused with blood 
when present in large quantities. I know no substance except 
acrolein which can be compared in this respect to chloride of 
cacodyl. It sinks in water without sensibly dissolving in that 
liquid, but imparts its penetrating odour. 
It is also insoluble in ether, but dissolves in any proportion in 
alcohol. Weak nitric acid dissolves it without decomposition, 
but the concentrated acid causes it to inflame with an explosion. 
The chlorine is perfectly precipitated from this solution by means 
of a silver salt. Caustic lime and barytes do not extract any 
muriatic acid, nor is chloride of calcium formed by conduct- 
ing its vapour over heated lime, before the temperature rises so 
high as to decompose the radical. An alcoholic solution of pot- 
ash decomposes this substance, chloride of potassium and an 
zthereal volatile substance being formed. The latter does not 
contain chlorine, is easily soluble in water and alcohol, and has a 
peculiar penetrating odour (C, H, As,?). This chloride is also 
converted into a saline mass in dry ammonia, which leaves sal- 
ammoniac behind when heated with alcohol. The different pro- 
ducts formed in these decompositions will be noticed hereafter. 
