42 Dr. Debus on the Action of Nitric Acid 



Analysis gave the following results : — 



I. 0-799 grm., dried in vacuo and burnt with chromate of lead, 

 gave 0*297 grm. carbonic acid and 0326 grm. water. 



II. 056 grm., burnt with chromate of lead, gave 0*202 grm. 

 carbonic acid and 0-226 grm. water. 



0"739 grm., boiled with a mixture of chlorate of potash and 

 hydrochloric acid, gave 1-42 grm. of sulphate of baryta. 

 In 100 parts, — 



I. II. 



Carbon 10-13 9-83 



4-53 4-48 



... 52*8 



Hydrogen 

 Oxygen . . . 

 Nitrogen 

 Sulphurous acid 



From these numbers I can only calculate the formula 



C^H2(NHy03, 2S02, 

 which requires, — 



The composition of the above compound is analogous to the 

 corresponding one of the aldehyde of acetic acid, — 



C2H3(NH4)0, S02. 



There is but this difference, that the common aldehyde contains 

 only one atom of hydrogen which can be replaced by electro- 

 positive or negative radicals, whilst the glyoxal contains two 

 atoms of hydi'Ogen of this chai'acter. It corresponds to the bi- 

 basic acids. 



If a cold solution of chloride of barium is mixed with a con- 

 centrated solution of 2(NaH0, SO^), C^H^O^ in about equi- 

 valent quantities, and the clear mixture is allowed to stand 

 quietly for two or three days, a hard crystalline crust of a com- 

 pound of 



Glyoxal with bisulphite of baryta, 2(0^ H^Ba^ O^, 2S02) + 7H^0, 



collects at the bottom of the basin. It can easily be purified by 

 recrystallizing it once or twice from boiling water. This com- 

 pound forms small white crystals, sparingly soluble in cold, but 

 easily in hot water. The aqueous solution becomes turbid on 

 continued boiling, and smells a little like sulphurous acid. The 

 solid compound, heated on platinum foil, turns black, emits sul- 



