DERIVATIVES OF METHYL ALCOHOL. 37 



water or alcohol. By agitating with sulphuric acid, 

 free nitroforrn is obtained from this. Colorless, cubical 

 crystals. Fusing point, 15; easily soluble in water. 

 Strong acid. W hen rapidly heated it is decomposed 

 with explosion, 



Nitrocarbon, CfNX) 2 ) 4 . Is produced from nitro- 

 form by heating with a mixture of concentrated sul- 

 phuric acid and fuming nitric acid. White crystalline 

 mass, fusing at about 13, and boiling at 126. Not 

 inflammable. Insoluble in water; soluble in alcohol 

 and ether. 



Nitrochloroform (Chloropicrin), C(ITO 2 )C1 3 . Is 

 formed when alcohol or wood-spirit is distilled with 

 sodium chloride, saltpetre and sulphuric acid, by the 

 distillation of a number of nitro-compounds with cal- 

 cium hypochlorite or hydrochloric acid and potas- 

 sium chlorate. Further, by heating chloroform with 

 nitric acid (containing hyponitric acid) in sealed 

 tubes to 90-100 for 12 hours. Is most readily 

 prepared by adding 45 parts of calcium hypochlorite, 

 mixed with water so as to form a thick pasty mass, 

 to a saturated aqueous solution of 4J parts of picric 

 acid at 30. The reaction begins immediately and 

 spontaneously, and the greater part of the chloro- 

 picrin distils over. Colorless oil, not combustible; 

 boiling at 112 ; specific gravity, 1.66. When heated 

 with acetic acid and iron filings, it yields methylamine; 

 heated with sodium ethylate, it yields orthocarbonic 

 ether C(O.C 2 H 5 ) 4 , a liquid which boils at 158-159. 



A compound very similar to chloroform, Marignac's 

 oil C(N0 2 ) 2 C1 2 , is produced by the distillation of naph- 

 thalene chloride with nitric acid. Colorless liquid; 

 explodes when heated alone ; can be distilled, however, 

 with vapors of water. 



Nitrobromoform (Bromopicrin), C^O^Br 3 . Is 

 prepared, like chloropicrin, by distilling picric acid 

 with calcium hypobromite (lime-water containing bro- 

 mine). Colorless, prismatic crystals, which melt at 

 4 



