154 



liquefies only considerably below the freezing-point of water. Again, 

 the differences of the boiling-points of substances, related in the way 

 that the formulae of M. Cloez suppose, do not often exceed 20, and 

 very rarely rise to 40 and 47. 



All these difficulties disappear by submitting the formulae of 

 M. Cloez to a slight alteration, and by regarding formylia, acetylia 

 and propylia as the di-ammonium bases of the same series, of the 

 ethylene series. If we adopt this view, the three bodies are de- 

 rived from 2 of ammonia, in which 2, 4 or 6 equivalents of hydrogen 

 are replaced respectively by 1, 2 or 3 equivalents of the bi-atomic 

 molecule ethylene ; and the formylia, acetylia and propylia of M. 

 Cloez present themselves as monethylene-diamine, diethylene-diamine 

 and triethylene-diamine. 



I have endeavoured experimentally to solve this question. The 

 analysis of acetylia, which is remarkable for the definite character of 

 its salts, appeared to promise an answer to it. 



When repeating the beautiful experiments of M. Cloez, I had 

 occasion to confirm all the indications given by this able chemist, 

 regarding the formation of the bases derived from bibromide of 

 ethylene. The analysis, however, furnished a discrepant result. 



M. Cloez represents formylia by the formula 



C 2 H 3 N, 

 when the hydrochlorate becomes 



C 2 H 3 N, HC1=C 2 H 4 NC1. 



When considered as a di-ammonium compound, this salt has the 

 composition 



C 4 -H 8 N 2 , 2 HC1=C 4 H 10 N 2 C1 2 =2C 2 H 6 N Cl. 



The two formulae only differ by one equivalent of hydrogen. 



The analysis of a magnificently crystallized hydrochlorate has 

 furnished me the following results : 



Formula of M. Cloez New formula Mean of 



C 2 H 4 N Cl. C 4 H 10 N 2 C1 2 . analysis. 



Carbon.... 18'32 18'04 1/-87 



Hydrogen.. 6'10 7'51 7*55. 



Chlorine .. 54*19 53'38 53'17 



On preparing the free base by the action of hydrate of potassa 



