212 CYANOGEN COMPOUNDS. 



rapidly converted into a white, amorphous mass, 

 cyamdide, a spontaneous elevation of the temperature 

 and an explosive boiling accompanying the action. 

 Cyamelide is polymeric with cyanic acid, and is again 

 transformed into it by means of distillation. It is 

 decomposed by water into ammonia and carbonic acid. 



Potassium cyanate, CN.OK A mixture of 8 parts 

 of previously dehydrated iron ferrocyanate and 3 parts 

 of potassium carbonate is heated to fusing, and 15 parts 

 of red lead added gradually to the somewhat cooled, 

 but still liquid mass. After the reduced lead has been 

 separated, the salt-mass is poured off, and the potassium 

 cyanate extracted by means of alcohol. Lamellae, simi 

 lar to potassium chloride ; easily soluble in water, but 

 decomposes very rapidly with w^ater, yielding potassium 

 carbonate and ammonia. 



Ammonium cyanate, CKOKH 4 , is produced when 

 the vapors of cyanic acid meet with dry ammonia: 

 white, solid mass, soluble in water. When heated or 

 dissolved in water, it is rapidly converted into urea, 

 with which it is isomeric. 



Silver cyanate, CJST.OAg, white precipitate, pro 

 duced by adding silver nitrate to a solution of potas 

 sium cyanate ; is also formed, together with ammonium 

 nitrate, by evaporating a solution of urea with silver 

 nitrate. When treated with dry hydrochloric acid, 

 it yields a volatile, easily decomposable compound 

 CO.KH + HC1. 



Ethyl cyanate (Cyanetholin), CKO.C 2 !! 5 , is pro 

 duced by the action of cyanogen chloride on sodium 

 ethylate. Liquid, not dlstillable without decomposi 

 tion ; insoluble in water ; specific gravity, 1.127. Caustic 

 potassa decomposes it, yielding ethyl alcohol, carbonic 

 anhydride, and ammonia. 



A compound CO:KC 2 IF, isomeric with the preced 

 ing, usually called ethyl cyanate, is produced, together 

 with ethyl cyanurate, by the distillation of a mixture 



