Action of Bisulphide of Carbon on Triethylphosphine. 137 

 into its constituents when acted upon hy triethylphosphine, 



E3P + NS, = E3PS, +N. 



Triethyl- Bisul- Bisulphide 



phosphine. phide of of triethyl- 



nitrogen. phosphine. 



The reaction is so violent that care must be taken to prevent the 

 phosphorus-base from being inflamed. 



Triethylphosphine is not less powerfully attacked by bisulphide of 

 carbon ; but the result is diiferent. On mixing the two bodies in 

 the anhydrous condition, they are found to combine with explosive 

 violence, a deep crimson-coloured crystalline compound being pro- 

 duced. This substance is obtained in better crystals if ethereal 

 solutions, instead of the anhydrous compounds, be employed. The 

 new body separates in beautiful crimson leaflets the moment the two 

 solutions are mixed. This phenomenon is so characteristic, that 

 ever since it was first noticed, it has served me as a valuable test for 

 the detection of even minute traces of triethylphosphine. A watch- 

 glass, moistened with the liquid in which the phosphorus-base is sus- 

 pected, is lield over a vessel containing bisulphide of carbon : the 

 vapour of this compound immediately causes the formation of a crimson 

 network of crystals, if the smallest quantity of triethylphosphine be 

 present. It is necessary that the base should be free ; its saline 

 solutions are not affected by bisulphide of carbon ; the reaction, 

 however, immediately appears when the base is liberated by the 

 addition of an alkali. 



The new body produced by the action of bisulphide of carbon 

 upon triethylphosphine is insoluble in water, nearly insoluble in 

 ether, but soluble in alcohol. From boiling alcohol it is deposited 

 on cooling in crimson needles, somewhat similar to the crystals of 

 chromic acid as obtained by the action of sulphuric acid upon bi- 

 chromate of potassium. The presence of bisulphide of carbon in 

 the alcohol considerably increases its solvent power for the crimson 

 body. The new substance fuses at about 95° C. ; it is volatile even 

 at the common temperature, and is easily volatilized at the tempera- 

 ture of boiling water. When rapidly heated it sublimes with partial 

 decomposition. 



The crimson crystals appear to have the character of a weak base ; 

 they easily dissolve in concentrated hydrochloric acid, a colourless 

 liquid being formed ; from this solution potassa or ammonia repre- 

 cipitate the body, apparently unchanged, although, in consequence 

 of the finely divided state, of a somewhat lighter colour. The 

 hydrochloric solution gives with bichloride of platinum a bright 

 yellow amorphous salt insoluble in alcohol and ether, which on 

 drying becomes dingy, with indications of decomposition. A gold- 

 salt similarly obtained exhibits a like deportment. Both salts 

 a])penrcd but very little adapted for analysis. The alcoholic solution 

 of the body is decomposed by nitrate of silver with formation of 

 sulphide of silver. 



