438 Notices of the Labours of Continental Chemists. 



The hi/drargobromide is very similar to the hydrargo- 

 chloride. 



Basic chloride of cacodyl is formed by treating the chloride 

 with water, or by distilling witli hydrochloric acid. Formula 

 (C^ H'^ As^ + O) + 3 (O H' ^ As^ + Cl^, or Kd O + 3 Kd CI'. 

 Density oi the vapour 5*46 ; according to calculation it should 

 be 5*35. This substance is very similar to the chloride ; it 

 boils at 109° C. 



Basic bromide of cacodyl is prepared in the same manner 

 as the above, to which it is very similar. It is yellow, be- 

 comes colourless on heating, and acquires its yellow colour 

 again on cooling. Formula (D H'- As- + O) + 3 (C^ H'- 

 As- + Br^), or Kd O + 3 Kd Br^ 



Basic iodide of cacodyl is produced, together with the iodide, 

 on distilling the oxide with hydriodic acid. It is deposited 

 from the neutral compound in yellow crystalline crusts. It 

 may be purified by recrystallization in alcohol and pressure 

 between bibulous paper. The water may be got rid of by 

 allowing it to stand some days in a fluid state in contact with 

 chloride of calcium, and then distilling. It absorbs oxygen 

 with such rapiditj', that Bunsen was not able to make an ana- 

 lysis of it. 



The iodide of cacodyl and the oxide may be mixed together 

 without combining, if they are both anhydrous ; but if a drop 

 of water be added, the solution becomes instantly one solid 

 mass, which consists of the basic iodide. The substance is 

 very soluble in alcohol, but little in water : melts below 100°C., 

 and may be distilled over unchanged. In the air it evolves 

 white vapours, and heats so much that it becomes fluid, and 

 sometimes inflames. By distillation with hydriodic acid it 

 cannot be reconverted into the neutral iodide, and in so far it 

 differs from similarly constituted inorganic salts. 



M. Bunsen intends continuing his researches on these in- 

 teresting bodies. 



Oil of Esdragon — Oil of Sabine. 



M. Laurent has analysed the oil of Esdragon, Its formula 

 isC'^ H^-O-'; it boils at 206°C. ; has a specific gravity of 0-945 ; 

 that of its vapour was found by experiment to be6'157, calcula- 

 ted 6*158. It combines with sulphuric acid to form sulphodra- 



conic acid; the formula of the baryta salt isC-'^H^-O', S + Ba; 

 treated with nitric acid, it gives five new crystallizable acids. 

 Oil of Sabine has the same constitution and same properties 

 as oil of turpentine. By the action of ammonia on oil of cin- 

 namon M. Laurent obtained a substance which he calls cinnhy- 

 dramid, C"' H'** N| O; he remarks, that the law of substi- 



