292 



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 

 appeared but very little adapted for analysis. The alcoholic solution 

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

 sulphide of silver. 



The analysis of the crimson crystals has shown that they contain 



C 14 H 15 PS 4 =C 2 H 15 P-f C 2 S 4 =E 3 P+C 2 S 4 . 



They are therefore formed by the direct union of 1 equivalent of 

 triethylphosphine with 2 equivalents of bisulphide of carbon. 



In the dry state the bisulphide of carbon compound may be pre- 

 served without being altered. In the presence of moisture, however, 

 it is decomposed, especially during hot weather. On examining 

 some specimens which had been kept during several months, the 

 crimson colour was found to have disappeared, the substance had 

 assumed a light yellow colour, and on opening the bottles the odour 

 of sulphuretted hydrogen became at once apparent. The yellowish 

 substance on recrystallization proved to be pure bisulphide of tri- 

 ethylphosphine. I leave it undecided whether this transposition had 

 taken place according to the equation 



or 



What is the constitution of the crimson body? In mineral 



