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XVII. Preliminary Notice of some Experiments on the Action 

 of Acetone on the Bichloride of Platinum (Platin Chlorid.). 

 By William C. Zeise of Copenhagen*. 



V17"HEN a solution of bichloride of platinum in about 2\ 

 ^^ parts of acetone is distilled to the consistence of syrup, 

 and the product once or twice redistilled, a mixture of several 

 new combinations of the protochloride (chlorlir) which is 

 thereby formed is obtained. The rectified fluid contains a 

 considerable quantity of muriatic acid, and at least one sethe- 

 lial substance. It is very difficult to obtain these difi'erent 

 combinations separate, and though I have spent already con- 

 siderable time in the attempt, I am not even yet certain that 

 I have obtained them all in a state of purity. One of these 

 compounds, a yellow crystallizable substance, the compo- 

 sition of which may be thus represented, 



PI. + 2 CI. + 6 C. + 10 H. + O. 



appears to deserve a particular description. To obtain this 

 substance, the brown, tarry, acid residue is agitated with 

 fresh portions of water so long as this acquires a brownish 

 yellow colour, and the solution quickly filtered through linen 

 to separate the undissolved resin or pitch-like matter. The 

 lower part of the solution soon becomes turbid, and in the 

 course of half an hour or an hour a tolerably large quantity 

 of small yellow crystals precipitates. The mother liquor, 

 when separated from the crystals, is placed, in vactio, over 

 sulphuric acid with hydrate of potassa or lime until it has 

 evaporated to a brown ci-ystalline mass : this mass is then to 

 be treated with water in the same way as before, by which a 

 new portion of the crystalline body will be obtained ; but this 

 is almost always of a dark brown colour. To obtain it pure 

 it must be dissolved in the acid fluid obtained by distilling the 

 solution of the bichloride in acetone, and the solution so 

 made distilled to the consistence of syrup, and then treated 

 with water in the manner before described. Finally, in order 

 to remove all remaining traces of the brown colouring matter, 

 the crystallized product, after being well pressed and dried 

 between the folds of bibulous paper, is to be dissolved in ace- 

 tone, the saturated hot solution filtered into a wide-mouthed 

 glass vessel, and, when cooled, and the crystals which have 

 been deposited separated, it must be evaporated by careful 

 distillation to that point, when on cooling the greatest part of 

 the substance is deposited. The crystals thus obtained are 

 to be washed in a small quantity of acetone, and then dried. 



• Translated and communicated by E. Solly, Jun, 



