214 CYANOGEN COMPOUNDS. 



with a solution of ammonia in dilute alcohol. Color 

 less, very easily soluble crystals ; fuses at 147, and is 

 transformed at 170 into the isomeric compound, sul- 

 phocarbamide (see Urea). 



Mercury sulphocyanate, (CNS) 2 Hg. Produced 

 by adding potassium sulphocyanate to a solution of 

 mercury nitrate. Amorphous, colorless, heavy precipi 

 tate, insoluble in water; burns on being heated, in 

 creasing greatly in volume (Pharaoh s serpents). 



Ethyl sulphocyanate, CKS.C 2 !! 5 , is formed by 

 the distillation of a mixture of potassium suphocj^anate 

 and potassium ethylsulphate. Colorless oil, boiling at 

 146; insoluble in water; specific gravity, 1.033 at 

 0. Combines directly with the simple hydrogen 

 acids, like ethyl cyanate. When boiled with nitric 

 acid it is oxidized, forming ethylsulphurous acid 

 (p. 51) ; it is decomposed by treatment with alcoholic 

 potassium sulphide, forming potassium sulphocyanate 

 and ethyl sulphide (p. 54); when treated with aqueous 

 ammonia, it yields urea, ethyl bisulphide, and ammo 

 nium cyanide. 



Ethylene sulphocyanate, (CNS) 2 C 2 H 4 , is produced 

 when ethylene chloride (p. 113) is heated with an 

 alcoholic solution of potassium sulphocyanate. Crys 

 tallizes from boiling water in stellate needles, from 

 alcohol in rhombic plates. But slightly soluble in 

 alcohol, easily in water. Fuses at 90, and is not vola 

 tile without decomposition. 



The following compounds, called mustard-oils, are 

 isomeric with the sulphocyanic ethers. 



Ethyl mustard-oil, CS:KC 2 H 5 . When carbon bi 

 sulphide is brought in contact with ethylamine, ethyl- 

 amine ethylsulphocarbamate (p. 227) is formed by the 

 direct combination of both bodies. When to the solu 

 tion of this salt silver nitrate or mercury chloride is 

 added, white precipitates are formed, which, when dis 

 tilled with water, yield ethyl mustard-oil, sulphuretted 



