Action of Sulphuretted Hydrogen upon Nitric Acetene. 351 



gene. Although my subsequent experiments have not verified 

 this conjecture, they have led to the discovery of a new reaction 



which is not without interest. 



The ether employed in the following experiment was prepared 

 after Liebig's method, by passing the nitrous vapors, evolved by 

 the action of nitric acid upon starch, into a carefully cooled mix- 

 ture of alcohol and water, and condensing the volatile product in 

 a tube surrounded by ice. It was washed two or three times 

 with water and finally dried by chlorid of calcium. Thus pre- 

 pared it had all the characters assigned by Liebig to the pure ether. 



I. An alcoholic solution of the ether mixed with a little water 

 of ammonia, was placed in a tubulated retort surrounded by ice 

 and connected with a condensing apparatus. A slow current of 

 sulphuretted hydrogen was now passed through the liquid which 

 assumed a dark orange color and almost immediately began to 

 deposit sulphur. Considerable heat was evolved and a portion 

 of the ether distilled over unchanged. When the separation of 

 the sulphur had ceased, and the deep yellow fluid gave evidence 

 of the presence of hydrosulphuret of ammonia, a solution of the 

 ether was added in small portions, until the mixture no longer 

 discolored the salts of lead. It was now carefully neutralized 

 by dilute sulphuric acid and distilled in a water-bath to one half. 

 The residue in the retort was carefully examined and was found 

 to be simply sulphate of ammonia. The alcoholic distillate had 

 a slightly alliaceous odor like mercaptan. In one experiment, 

 operating upon ether, probably impure, a liquid was obtained, 

 with a powerful taste and odor recalling that of garlic. 



H. About fifty grains of the ether were introduced into a glass 

 globe and a stream of pure moist sulphuretted hydrogen was 

 conducted to the bottom. The globe was immediately filled 

 with a white cloud and the sides were soon coated with pure 

 sulphur, which was precipitated in such abundance as to make 

 the liquid at the bottom quite thick. When the reaction was 

 finished, the contents of the globe were washed out with a little 

 water ; the liquid was alkaline to tumeric paper A little hy- 

 drochloric acid was added, the liquid boiled, faltered, 

 a solution of chlorid of platinum and evaporated to dryness m 

 a water-bath. The residue washed with alcohol, left * quantity 

 of yellow salt, which, under a magnifier presented %*JZ 

 of brilliant octahedrons which were readily recognized as the 



aownonio-chlorid of platinum. . r „ cllU 



III. These trials led to the conclusion that the «**™»*fc 

 od in the complete decomposition of the nitric acetene into a 

 poma and alcohol, and the following e ^^? ^ u £* 

 beyond a doubt. Having ascertained that the d^JTO""5 



a *d hydrosulphurets effected this decomposition, ^ s0 ot 



twenty grams of hydrate of soda was saturated with sulphuret- 



A little hy- 

 mixed with 



