178 On Compounds of Ethylene. 
the phenyl, benzyl, napthyl and other series. 
the hope of adding some facts to the history of the poly- 
atomic radicals I have made some experiments with chlorid of 
ethylene C1HsCls. : 
his compound, as well as bromid of ethylene, refused to act 
in many instances, in others it underwent the same change which 
is induced by the action on it of a solution of potassa in alcohol, 
splitting into the compound C.H:Cl and hydrochloric acid. 
oiling chlorid or bromid of ethylene with an alcoholic 
solution of sulphocyanid of potassium, a very definite reaction 
takes place. The change being completed, the alcohol is sepa- 
rated by distillation, and the residue treated with a small quantity 
of cold water in order to remove chlorid or bromid of potassium, 
which is produced and the excess of sulphocyanid of potassium. 
e more or less colored residue is then dissolved in boiling 
alcohol, and the solution, after digestion for some time with ant- 
mal charcoal and a few drops of hydrochloric acid, filtered while 
hot. This solution deposits on cooling brilliant and large rhom- 
bic plates of a hard and. brittle white substance.* The analysis 
of this substance leads to the formula 
3 CaHsCy2S, 
and its formation may be represented by the equation 
CsHsCle+2K CyS:=2K Cl+CsHiCy2Ss, 
which in the conception of this view may be called anylene-sul- 
phurous acid, the cyanogen is replaced by hydrogen, whilst the 
sulphur has been oxydized into the compound radical S20s, 
which in sulphurous acid we assume united with hydrogen. 
Two equivs. of H SoOe Ethylene- H | 06 
K 
kK 
: On 
= molecules H bisulphite of sulphurous CaH4 
t 206 H 
of water, H 
H t potassium, H acid, ~o 
Since we find that the hydrogen-molecules in polybasie acids 
are replacable by two or more molecules of different metals or 
tadicals, witness tartrate of potassium and sodium, oxalovinate 
of potassium, the idea naturall y suggests itself that the biatomic 
alcohol-forming radicals may be capable of uniting two molecules 
of different elements or compounds of the oxygen group. Itis 
«i Mr. Tannenschein has commu- 
ae ts e in the same direction, which have likewise led to 
the discovery of this substance. Tannenschein’s results, which are published in ip 
ur Chem. June, 1855, came to our a 
the results been sent to the editor of the Ann. der Chem. und Pharm—a. W. & 
