AMIDES AND SOME ORGANIC ALKALIS. 253 



various relations are not necessary, and we might quote contrary 

 examples in which a slow decomposition gives off more heat than a 

 rapid one effected at the same temperature (decomposition of 

 barium dioxide by a diluted acid, with the rapid formation of 

 oxygenated water, which is itself slowly resolved into water and 

 free oxygen ; the decomposition of a hypochlorite by a dilute 

 acid, &c.). 



The initial temperature of the reactions is not connected except 

 in a general manner with their unequal thermal value, as is shown 

 by the comparison of the reactions of potassium chlorate and 

 iodate. In short, the conditions of more or less rapid action or 

 higher or lower initial temperature are not those that regulate 

 the phenomena. 



On the contrary, the phenomena are determined, on the one 

 hand, l>y the general tendency towards the conservation of the 

 initial molecular condition, arid, on the other hand, ly the tendency 

 of any system towards the condition that corresponds to the 

 maximum of heat given off. This last condition is realised fully 

 whenever the corresponding bodies can begin to be produced in 

 the conditions of the experiments. It is in order to avoid, so 

 far as possible, the realisation of conditions favourable to the 

 production of these bodies that we avoid raising the temperature 

 and hurrying the reactions. We thus keep as closely as 

 possible to the primitive molecular type. 



Without dwelling longer on considerations of this order, it 

 may be said in conclusion that the thermal observations confirm 

 and specify the unstable properties of hydroxylamine, and this 

 instability is due to the exothermal character of its various 

 decompositions. 



5. HEAT OF FORMATION OF SOME ORGANIC ALKALIS. 



First Section General Remarks. 



1. Ammonia, on uniting with organic compounds, such as 

 hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, acids, forms compounds of 

 various natures, alkalis and amides in particular. 1 



The thermal study of these compounds has been very little 

 worked. It would be of great interest in the study of the force 

 of explosive substances derived from ammoniacal salts, cyanides, 

 diazo compounds, etc. The author measured the heat of for- 

 mation of the cyanide compounds, of several diazo compounds, 

 and of some alkalis and amides. As special chapters are 

 devoted to the cyanide series and the diazo compounds, the 

 alkalis and amides will only be discussed here. 



i " Traite Ele'mentaire de Chimie Organique," torn. xi. pp. 224 and 313. 

 Second edition (1881), with the collaboration of M. Jungfleisch, published by 

 Dunod. 



