44 ELECTROLYSIS AND ELECTROS 'YN THESIS 



form of their sodium or mercury compounds yielded 

 unchanged amides. 



The review which has been given of the investiga- 

 tions on the electrolysis of the aliphatic carboxylic 

 acids is believed to include all present information on 

 this subject. Of the investigations mentioned, an 

 advance is shown only in those of Kolbe-Bourgoin, 

 Brown-Walker, and Mulliken-Weems. The action of 

 the electric current has been used, in these cases at 

 least, for effecting a limited number of organic syn- 

 theses. A number of papers on the action of the 

 electric current on compounds containing cyanogen 

 and sulphur will next be mentioned. 



2. Cyanogen Compounds. 



Cyanogen. Berthelot J observed that cyanogen was 

 decomposed into its elements by the action of the 

 electric spark. The slightest trace of water in the gas 

 caused the formation of hydrocyanic acid and acety- 

 lene. By submitting moist cyanogen gas to the 

 action of the voltaic arc Buff and Hofmann 8 noted 

 the formation of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, 

 and ammonia. 



Cyanogen can be obtained by the electrolysis of a 

 solution of potassium ferrocyanide. 3 



1 Comp. rend., 82, 1360. 



* Lieb. Ann., 113, 135. 



8 See potassium ferrocyanide. p. 45. 



