190 



II. " On the Synthesis of Succinic and Pyrotartaric Acids." 

 By MAXWELL SIMPSON, Esq., M.B. Communicated by 

 Dr. FRANKLAND. Received April 10, 1861. 



(Abstract.) 



Since my last communication to the Society*, I have succeeded 

 in obtaining the cyanide of ethylene in a state of purity by a slight 

 modification of the process I have already given. A detailed account 

 of it will be found in the paper which accompanies this abstract. 



This is, I believe, the first example of a diatomic cyanide. It has 

 the following properties in addition to those I have already enume- 

 rated : Below the temperature of 37 Cent, it is a crystalline 

 solid of a light-brown colour, above that temperature it is a fluid oil. 

 Its specific gravity at 45 Cent, is 1*023. It has an acrid dis- 

 agreeable taste. It is neutral to test-paper. It is decomposed by 

 potassium, cyanide of potassium being formed. Its solution in water 

 is not affected by nitrate of silver. Heated with nitric acid, it gives 

 succinic acid and nitrate of ammonia. Heated with muriatic acid, it 

 yields the same acid and muriate of ammonia. It forms an inter- 

 esting compound with nitrate of silver, which was obtained in the 

 following manner : About three equivalents of crystallized nitrate 

 of silver were rubbed up in a mortar with one equivalent of pure 

 cyanide of ethylene and a considerable quantity of ether. The ether 

 was then poured off, and the residual salt dissolved in boiling alcohol. 

 On cooling, the alcohol . became a mass of brilliant pearly plates. 

 Submitted to analysis, these yielded results agreeing with the for- 

 mula C 4 H 4 Cy 2 +4 (AgO, NO 5 ). The crystals are soluble in water 

 and alcohol, insoluble in ether. When heated, they melt and explode 

 like gunpowder. They do not detonate on percussion. This com- 

 pound may possibly throw some light on the constitution of the 

 fulminates. 



I have also slightly modified the process I gave in my last note 

 for succinic acid. The modified process is very productive, and 

 yields the acid at once in a state of purity. From 1500 grains of 

 bromide of ethylene I obtained 480 grains of succinic acid, or nearly 



* Proceedings, vol. x. p. 574. 



