214 CYANOGEN COMPOUNDS. 



with a solution of ammonia in dilute alcohol. Color- 

 less, very easily soluble crystals; fuses at 147, and is 

 transformed at 170 into the isomeric compound, sul- 

 phocarbamide (see Urea). 



Mercury sulphocyanate, (CNS) 2 IIg. Produced 

 by adding potassium sulphocyanate to a solution of 

 mercury nitrate. Amorphous, colorless, heavy precipi- 

 tate, insoluble in water; burns on being heated, in- 

 creasing greatly in volume (Pharaoh's serpents). 



Ethyl sulphocyanate, CKS.C 2 H 5 , is formed by 

 the distillation of a mixture of potassium suphocyanate 

 and potassium ethylsulphate. Colorless oil, boiling at 

 146; insoluble in water; specific gravity, 1.033 at 

 0. Combines directly with the simple hydrogen 

 acids, like ethyl cyanate. When boiled with nitric 

 acid it is oxidized, forming ethylsulphurous acid 

 (p. 51) ; it is decomposed by treatment with alcoholic 

 potassium sulphide, forming potassium sulphocyanate 

 and ethyl sulphide (p. 54) ; when treated with aqueous 

 ammonia, it yields urea, ethyl bisulphide, and ammo- 

 nium cyanide. 



Ethylene sulphocyanate, (CNS) 2 C 2 H 4 , is produced 

 when ethylene chloride (p. 113) is heated with an 

 alcoholic solution of potassium sulphocyanate. Crys- 

 tallizes from boiling water in stellate needles, from 

 alcohol in rhombic plates. But slightly soluble in 

 alcohol, easily in water. Fuses at 90, and is not vola- 

 tile without decomposition. 



The following compounds, called mustard-oils, are 

 isomeric with the sulphocyanic ethers. 



Ethyl mustard-oil, CS:KC 2 H 5 . When carbon bi- 

 sulphide is brought in contact with ethylamine, ethyl- 

 amine ethylsulphocarbamate (p. 227) is formed by the 

 direct combination of both bodies. When to the solu- 

 tion of this salt silver nitrate or mercury chloride is 

 added, white precipitates are formed, which, when dis- 

 tilled with water, yield ethyl mustard-oil, sulphuretted 



